Tuesday in the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30

M ark 7:1-13 Now when the Pharisees gathered together to him, with some of the scribes, who had come from Jerusalem, (2) they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands defiled, that is, unwashed. (3) (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they wash their hands, observing the tradition of the elders; (4) and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they purify themselves; and there are many other traditions which they observe, the washing of cups and pots and vessels of bronze.) (5) And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with hands defiled?" (6) And he said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, `This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; (7) in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.' (8) You leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men." (9) And he said to them, "You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God, in order to keep your tradition! (10) For Moses said, `Honor your father and your mother'; and, `He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him surely die'; (11) but you say, `If a man tells his father or his mother, What you would have gained from me is Corban' (that is, given to God) — (12) then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, (13) thus making void the word of God through your tradition which you hand on. And many such things you do." 

In today’s part of the saga Solomon speaks before the Ark of the Covenant in the completed Temple .  Built of the Cedars of Lebanon, the Temple is brand-spanking new.  What must it have been like on that day?  Imagine being there with its ambience, feel  and smell of a newly constructed special ediface complete with new altar furnishings and a spotless look that couldn’t fail to inspire us.  Now at last was a presentable place for the Lord.  This was the place where the God of Israel will reside, the God of the Covenant constantly and without fail showing his love for us, His people.

The beautiful and surprising mystery contained here in this magnificent scene is that each one of us, like Solomon’s Temple , surrounds the Presence of the good and loving God.  We learned long ago that our bodies are the “temples of the Holy Spirit,” and that as such we literally carry in our hearts the very presence of God our Lord and Savior.

What an incredible and humbling truth that is for us to ponder – that little me bears within her/himself the presence of the Eternal God.  God loves us that much!  How can I possibly respond to that?

 

Supplementary Reading

Set the Tone

 

I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak His praises --- Psalm 34:1

 

 

 

 

Father in Heaven, I choose to bless you at all times. I choose to set the tone to receive your favor, grace and mercy. Thank you for your faithfulness to me at all times! In Jesus' Name. Amen -- Joel Osteen

 

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• 02/12/2010 04:21 - Feb 14, 2010 - Sunday Meditation (Let's Be Rooted in GOD!)
• 02/10/2010 03:17 - Feb 13, 2010 - Saturday Meditation (Have a Need? PRAY!)
• 02/10/2010 03:14 - Feb 12, 2010 - Friday Meditation (Dont Allow Bitterness to Take Root!)
• 02/10/2010 03:13 - Feb 11, 2010 - Thursday Meditation (Root or Rot : You Decide)
• 02/07/2010 05:29 - Feb 10, 2010 - Wednesday Meditation (We All Need a Savior!)

• 02/07/2010 05:26 - Feb 8, 2010 - Monday Meditation (Expect God's Favor)
• 02/06/2010 00:18 - Feb 7, 2010 - Sunday Meditation (Will You Answer His Call?)
• 02/04/2010 03:33 - Feb 6, 2010 - Saturday Meditation (God's Perfect Time)
• 02/04/2010 03:28 - Feb 5, 2010 - Friday Meditation (Seeing from God's View Point
• 01/30/2010 21:50 - Feb 4, 2010 - Thursday Meditation (Holy Spirit, We Need You!)

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