My reflections for Feb. 08, 2006 - Wednesday

February 8, 2006

Reading I
1 Kings 10:1-10

The queen of Sheba, having heard of Solomon’s fame,
came to test him with subtle questions.
She arrived in Jerusalem with a very numerous retinue,
and with camels bearing spices,
a large amount of gold, and precious stones.
She came to Solomon and questioned him on every subject
in which she was interested.
King Solomon explained everything she asked about,
and there remained nothing hidden from him
that he could not explain to her.

When the queen of Sheba witnessed Solomon’s great wisdom,
the palace he had built, the food at his table,
the seating of his ministers, the attendance and garb of his waiters,
his banquet service,
and the burnt offerings he offered in the temple of the LORD,
she was breathless.
“The report I heard in my country
about your deeds and your wisdom is true,” she told the king.
“Though I did not believe the report until I came and saw with my own eyes,
I have discovered that they were not telling me the half.
Your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report I heard.
Blessed are your men, blessed these servants of yours,
who stand before you always and listen to your wisdom.
Blessed be the LORD, your God,
whom it has pleased to place you on the throne of Israel.
In his enduring love for Israel,
the LORD has made you king to carry out judgment and justice.”
Then she gave the king one hundred and twenty gold talents,
a very large quantity of spices, and precious stones.
Never again did anyone bring such an abundance of spices
as the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

(It is interesting that a pagan queen is able to recognize the wisdom of Solomon. This tells us that there is a universal quality to wisdom and truth. That is, what is true is recognizable to all as true. Truth is not a relative commodity that changes across peoples and cultures. This is why the witness of our lives is so important - as if we live the truth in love, ALL people will able to see the truth of the Gospel.)

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 37:5-6, 30-31, 39-40

R. The mouth of the just murmurs wisdom.
Commit to the LORD your way;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will make justice dawn for you like the light;
bright as the noonday shall be your vindication.
R. The mouth of the just murmurs wisdom.
The mouth of the just man tells of wisdom
and his tongue utters what is right.
The law of his God is in his heart,
and his steps do not falter.
R. The mouth of the just murmurs wisdom.
The salvation of the just is from the LORD;
he is their refuge in time of distress.
And the LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.
R. The mouth of the just murmurs wisdom.

Gospel
Mark 7:14-23

Jesus summoned the crowd again and said to them,
“Hear me, all of you, and understand.
Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person;
but the things that come out from within are what defile.”

When he got home away from the crowd
his disciples questioned him about the parable.
He said to them,
“Are even you likewise without understanding?
Do you not realize that everything
that goes into a person from outside cannot defile,
since it enters not the heart but the stomach
and passes out into the latrine?”
(Thus he declared all foods clean.)
“But what comes out of the man, that is what defiles him.
From within the man, from his heart,
come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder,
adultery, greed, malice, deceit,
licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.
All these evils come from within and they defile.”

(This teaching of Jesus affirms the dignity and freedom of the individual in choosing the way that they will live their lives. He affirms that it is the choices that we make which determine the type of person, holy or otherwise, that we are. Yes, the envirionment can influence our choices as can other people and things, but ultimately what matters is what we ourselves choose to do when confronted with a number of possibilities.)


God's special verse/thought for me today.
Psalm 18:19-21
He brought me forth also into a broad place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me.
The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.
For I have kept the ways of the Lord, And have not wickedly departed from my God.
Message of God to me on
Feb. 8, 2006 @ 11:19 am Canadian-ET


my reflections
think: If we live the truth in love, ALL people will able to see the truth of the Gospel.
If we find the Truth and CHOOSE to live on it, we become righteous. Being righteous is keeping the ways of God and become closer to Him everyday in everyway. God rewards the righteous so I desire to become righteous because this is the way for my God to rescue me. O Lord Jesus my God, teach me how to become as righteous as I could be. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you showed me that choosing to become righteous is what you desire for me so I could pass on the message to other people that you want them also to become righteous.

thank You Lord for: showing me the Truth.
thank You Lord for helping me to live the truth in love.
thank You Lord for helping me to become righteous.
thank You Lord for Your message to me today.
thank You Lord for rescuing me.
thank You Lord for rewarding me according to my righteousness.
thank You Lord for helping me to stay clean.