5TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
St. Jerome Emiliani, priest /
St. Josephine Bakhita, virgin
Psalter: Week 1 / (Green/White)
Ps 106:3-4, 35-36, 37 & 40
Remember us, O Lord,
as you favor your people.
1st Reading: 1 K 11:4-13
In Solomon’s old age, his wives led him astray to serve other gods and, unlike his father David, his heart was no longer wholly given to Yahweh, his God. For he served Astarte, the goddess of the Sidonians, and Milcom, the idol of the Ammonites. He did what displeased Yahweh and, unlike his father David, was unfaithful to him. Solomon even built a high place for Chemosh, the idol of Moab, on the mountain east of Jerusalem and also for Molech, the idol of the Ammonites. He did the same for all his foreign wives who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.
Yahweh became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from Yahweh, the God of Israel. Yahweh appeared to him twice and commanded him not to follow other gods. But he did not obey Yahweh’s command. Therefore, Yahweh said to Solomon, “Since this has been your choice and you have kept neither my Covenant nor the statutes I commanded you, I will take the kingdom from you and give it to your servant. Nevertheless, I will not do this during your lifetime for the sake of your father David; I will take it from your son. But I will not take it all; I will reserve one tribe for your son for the sake of David, my servant, and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen.”
Gospel: Mk 7:24-30
When Jesus left that place, he went to the border of the Tyrian country. There, he entered a house, and did not want anyone to know he was there; but he could not remain hidden. A woman, whose small daughter had an evil spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet. Now this woman was a pagan, a Syrophoenician by birth, and she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter. Jesus told her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the puppies.” But she replied, “Sir, even the puppies under the table eat the crumbs from the children’s bread.” Then Jesus said to her, “You may go your way; because of such a response, the demon has gone out of your daughter.” And when the woman went home, she found her child lying in bed, and the demon gone.
Reflections
HIS HEART WAS NO LONGER GIVEN TO YAHWEH, HIS GOD
Solomon in his old age turned away from Yahweh and worshipped other gods. HIS HEART WAS NO LONGER GIVEN TO YAHWEH, HIS GOD. In the convent, the religious can likewise turn away from their original zeal when they enter and become lukewarm in the service of God. If humans can become unfaithful to God, so much more can they be unfaithful to other human beings. Many marriages are plagued with infidelity. So in our relationship with each other and with God, there is a need to regularly renew our first enthusiasm. In the religious life, one will have to be faithful to one’s daily obligations and be faithful to one’s prayer life. We have a recollection and an 8, day retreat every year to make sure that we will not fall into lukewarmness and mediocrity. Married couples have to also find ways to cultivate their friendship with one another so that when the first thrill of romance fades away, they can continue to deepen their relationship with one another. Loving God, you know our weakness and our propensity to lose our first fervor. Help us to go on giving our heart to you in spite of dryness and spiritual fatigue. Send your Holy Spirit to once again enkindle in us the fire of your love. Amen.
Daily Reflection 2018
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