Wednesday, February 08, 2012 (Weekday)

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
Help yourself during this troubled period by reading holy books. This reading provides excellent food for the soul and conduces to great progress along the path of perfection. By no means is it inferior to what we obtain through prayer and holy meditation. In prayer and meditation it is ourselves who speak to the Lord, while in holy reading it is God who speaks to us. Before beginning to read, raise your mind to the Lord and implore Him to guide your mind Himself, to speak to your heart and move your will.
-- Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: 1 Kings 10:1-10
(The Visit of the Queen of Sheba)
1 When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of Yahweh, she came to prove him with hard questions.
2 She came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bore spices, and very much gold, and precious stones; and when she was come to Solomon, she talked with him of all that was in her heart.
3 Solomon told her all her questions: there was not anything hidden from the king which he didn’t tell her.

4 When the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built,

5 and the food of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their clothing, and his cup bearers, and his ascent by which he went up to the house of Yahweh; there was no more spirit in her. 6 She said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in my own land of your acts, and of your wisdom.

7 However I didn’t believe the words, until I came, and my eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me; your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame which I heard.

8 Happy are your men, happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you, and who hear your wisdom.

9 Blessed be Yahweh your God, who delighted in you, to set you on the throne of Israel: because Yahweh loved Israel forever, therefore made he you king, to do justice and righteousness.

10 She gave the king one hundred twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.

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

5 Commit your way to Yahweh. Trust also in him, and he will do this:

6 He will make your righteousness go forth as the light, And your justice as the noon day sun.

30 The mouth of the righteous talks of wisdom. His tongue speaks justice.

31 The law of his God is in his heart. None of his steps shall slide.

39 But the salvation of the righteous is from Yahweh. He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.

40 Yahweh helps them, and rescues them. He rescues them from the wicked, and saves them, Because they have taken refuge in him.

Gospel: Mark 7:14-23
(The Things That Make a Person Unclean)

14 He called all the multitude to himself, and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand.

15 There is nothing from outside of the man, that going into him can defile him; but the things which proceed out of the man are those that defile the man.

16 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!”

17 When he had entered into a house away from the multitude, his disciples asked him about the parable.

18 He said to them, “Are you thus without understanding also? Don’t you perceive that whatever goes into the man from outside can’t defile him,

19 because it doesn’t go into his heart, but into his stomach, then into the latrine, thus making all foods clean?”

20 He said, “That which proceeds out of the man, that defiles the man.

21 For from within, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts,

22 covetings, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness.

23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”