Welcoming Foreigners

Feb. 7: Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

Although Israel is the chosen people, God never intended for them to be the only ones close to Him. Paul was the apostle to the gentiles, but universalism wasn’t a new and unique idea to him. Even as far back as the time of Solomon, as we can see in the first reading, God is reaching out to the world.

Reading 1

1 Kgs 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.

The queen of Sheba is a massively rich leader from a distant land, yet she’s heard of King Solomon. The stories sound like exaggerations, so she wanted to see his wealth and wisdom for herself. And boy, did she!

But this foreigner doesn’t give credit solely to Solomon, as one might expect. She also credits the Lord. God’s blessings will be reported far and wide, thanks to her.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 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.

Wise and just rulers, like Solomon,¹ are a testament to God, but they are not God. We, like the queen of Sheeba, should look beyond the wise man and see the source of his wisdom.

Alleluia

See Jn 17:17b, 17a

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Your word, O Lord, is truth:
consecrate us in the truth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

God’s word is right there for us at any time. Pick it up and read it!

Gospel

Mk 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.”

God’s creation is good. Eating different kinds of food doesn’t “defile” us. It’s all of the things we struggle with internally. The bad we’re inclined to do, to hurt others, to be selfish and thoughtless.

As Lent approaches, we should keep that in mind when deciding what to “give up” for the season.

1. So far. His reign kinda goes south later on.