First Reading
1 Kings 8:1-7, 9-13
1 Kings 8:1-7, 9-13
The elders of Israel and all the leaders of the tribes,
the princes in the ancestral houses of the children of Israel,
came to King Solomon in Jerusalem,
to bring up the ark of the LORD’s covenant
from the City of David, which is Zion.
All the people of Israel assembled before King Solomon
during the festival in the month of Ethanim (the seventh month).
When all the elders of Israel had arrived,
the priests took up the ark;
they carried the ark of the LORD
and the meeting tent with all the sacred vessels
that were in the tent.
(The priests and Levites carried them.)
the princes in the ancestral houses of the children of Israel,
came to King Solomon in Jerusalem,
to bring up the ark of the LORD’s covenant
from the City of David, which is Zion.
All the people of Israel assembled before King Solomon
during the festival in the month of Ethanim (the seventh month).
When all the elders of Israel had arrived,
the priests took up the ark;
they carried the ark of the LORD
and the meeting tent with all the sacred vessels
that were in the tent.
(The priests and Levites carried them.)
King Solomon and the entire community of Israel
present for the occasion
sacrificed before the ark sheep and oxen
too many to number or count.
The priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD
to its place beneath the wings of the cherubim in the sanctuary,
the holy of holies of the temple.
The cherubim had their wings spread out over the place of the ark,
sheltering the ark and its poles from above.
There was nothing in the ark but the two stone tablets
which Moses had put there at Horeb,
when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel
at their departure from the land of Egypt.
present for the occasion
sacrificed before the ark sheep and oxen
too many to number or count.
The priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD
to its place beneath the wings of the cherubim in the sanctuary,
the holy of holies of the temple.
The cherubim had their wings spread out over the place of the ark,
sheltering the ark and its poles from above.
There was nothing in the ark but the two stone tablets
which Moses had put there at Horeb,
when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel
at their departure from the land of Egypt.
When the priests left the holy place,
the cloud filled the temple of the LORD
so that the priests could no longer minister because of the cloud,
since the LORD’s glory had filled the temple of the LORD.
Then Solomon said, “The LORD intends to dwell in the dark cloud;
I have truly built you a princely house,
a dwelling where you may abide forever.”
the cloud filled the temple of the LORD
so that the priests could no longer minister because of the cloud,
since the LORD’s glory had filled the temple of the LORD.
Then Solomon said, “The LORD intends to dwell in the dark cloud;
I have truly built you a princely house,
a dwelling where you may abide forever.”
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 132:6-7, 8-10
Psalm 132:6-7, 8-10
R. (8a) Lord, go up to the place of your rest!
Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah;
we found it in the fields of Jaar.
Let us enter into his dwelling,
let us worship at his footstool.
we found it in the fields of Jaar.
Let us enter into his dwelling,
let us worship at his footstool.
R. Lord, go up to the place of your rest!
Advance, O LORD, to your resting place,
you and the ark of your majesty.
May your priests be clothed with justice;
let your faithful ones shout merrily for joy.
For the sake of David your servant,
reject not the plea of your anointed.
you and the ark of your majesty.
May your priests be clothed with justice;
let your faithful ones shout merrily for joy.
For the sake of David your servant,
reject not the plea of your anointed.
R. Lord, go up to the place of your rest!
Gospel
Mark 6:53-56
Mark 6:53-56
After making the crossing to the other side of the sea,
Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret
and tied up there.
As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him.
They scurried about the surrounding country
and began to bring in the sick on mats
to wherever they heard he was.
Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered,
they laid the sick in the marketplaces
and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak;
and as many as touched it were healed.
Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret
and tied up there.
As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him.
They scurried about the surrounding country
and began to bring in the sick on mats
to wherever they heard he was.
Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered,
they laid the sick in the marketplaces
and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak;
and as many as touched it were healed.
REFLECTION
Source: One Bread One Body
Title: "REBUILD MY CHURCH"
"I have truly built You a princely house, a dwelling where You may abide forever." –1 Kgs 8:13
Everything Solomon created – the magnificent Temple building, the great architecture, ornate decorations, and countless sacrifices – pointed toward the moment of the arrival of the Ark of the Covenant. When the ark was placed in the Temple, it meant that God now dwelt within its walls (1 Kgs 8:11-13).
The people of Israel were caught up in the excitement of God dwelling in their midst. The dedication of the Jerusalem Temple was the apex of Israel's history; from that point, everything went downhill. They delighted in the trappings of worship, but their lifestyles showed that they were interested only in giving the Lord "lip-service" rather than "life-service" (see Mk 7:6; Is 29:13). Solomon's pride and disobedience mirrored that of all Israel and sowed the seeds of civil war. The Lord Who dwells with His people delights in humility and obedience; Solomon and many other worshippers instead gave the Lord pride and disobedience.
It is good that our Church buildings contain beauty befitting the glory and majesty of Almighty God. It is also fitting that those who enter the Church buildings worship God with hearts full of love and lives of obedient faith (Rm 1:5). Jesus reveals that God is seeking people who will worship Him in spirit and truth (Jn 4:23). Humble yourself in God's sight (1 Pt 5:6), especially by obeying His commandments (Jn 15:10). Rebuild the Church by your loving reverence and obedience.
PRAYER: Father, may I obey You so that my light might shine before all so they will give glory to You (Mt 5:16).
PROMISE: "All who touched Him got well." –Mk 6:56
PRAISE: St. Scholastica left her family to found a religious community.
No comments:
Post a Comment