First Reading - 1 Kings 10:1-10
Gospel - Mark 7:14-23
There is a natural human tendency to look for greatness in what is visible — success, reputation, achievement, or outward appearance. Yet Scripture repeatedly reminds us that what truly matters lies deeper, in the heart. Today’s readings invite us to move beyond appearances and to seek the wisdom and purity that come from within.
In the First Reading, the Queen of Sheba travels a great distance to see Solomon. She has heard of his wisdom and the blessings surrounding his kingdom, but she wants to see for herself. When she encounters Solomon, she realizes that the reality surpasses what she had heard. His wisdom, order, and prosperity reveal something greater than human skill; they reflect God’s blessing at work. The queen’s response is not envy but admiration, and she praises the God who has granted such wisdom.
This encounter shows that true wisdom attracts. It does not need to force attention or demand recognition. When life is ordered according to God’s ways, it becomes a quiet witness that draws others toward the source of that wisdom.
In the Gospel, Jesus shifts the focus even more deeply inward. The religious leaders were concerned about external purity — what enters the body, ritual observances, and visible behavior. Jesus challenges this thinking by teaching that what truly defiles a person comes from within. Evil thoughts, jealousy, pride, greed, and deceit arise from the human heart. The problem is not external contamination but internal disorder.
This teaching is both challenging and liberating. It moves responsibility inward. Holiness is not achieved simply by avoiding certain things or maintaining appearances. It requires transformation of the heart. External actions matter, but they flow from inner attitudes and desires.
Dear friends, wisdom and holiness begin within. Solomon’s wisdom reflects a heart aligned with God, and Jesus reminds us that true purity comes from inner conversion. God is less concerned with how things look from the outside and more concerned with who we are becoming inside.
Much energy is spent managing appearances — how we are perceived, how successful or composed we seem. Yet anxiety and conflict often remain beneath the surface. Today’s word invites honesty. Real change begins when we allow God to examine our hearts, not just our actions.
The invitation today is to seek inner wisdom rather than external approval. Ask God to purify intentions, to heal resentment, and to replace pride with humility. Allow prayer to move beyond words into self-examination and openness to grace.
When the heart is transformed, actions naturally follow. When wisdom takes root within, life itself becomes a testimony. And when we allow God to work at the deepest level of our being, we discover a freedom that no external success can give — the freedom of a heart made whole, sincere, and open to God’s presence.
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