💖 HOMILY - FEBRUARY 7 💖

First Reading - 1 Kings 3:4-13

Gospel - Mark 6:30-34

There is a deep exhaustion that many people carry today. Life becomes full of responsibilities, expectations, and constant movement, yet beneath the activity there remains a quiet hunger — the desire to live wisely and to find rest that truly restores. Today’s readings bring these two longings together and show that both wisdom and rest begin in relationship with God.

In the First Reading, Solomon stands at the beginning of his reign, aware of the weight of responsibility before him. When God invites him to ask for anything, Solomon does something unexpected. He does not ask for power, wealth, or victory. He asks for an understanding heart — the wisdom to govern well and to discern between good and evil. Solomon recognizes his limits. His request is rooted in humility, not ambition. Because he seeks what truly matters, God grants him wisdom and also gives him what he did not ask for.

This moment teaches an important lesson. Wisdom begins when we admit that we do not have all the answers. It grows when our concern shifts from personal success to the good of others. Solomon’s prayer reminds us that the greatest gift is not control, but clarity of heart.

The Gospel presents the disciples returning from mission, tired and overwhelmed by the crowds. Jesus sees their exhaustion and invites them to come away and rest. Yet when they arrive, the crowd is already waiting. Instead of irritation, Jesus responds with compassion, seeing them as sheep without a shepherd. His heart moves toward them, and he begins to teach.

Here we see something profound. True rest is not simply escape from responsibility, but being rooted in compassion rather than pressure. Jesus himself lives from a place of inner communion with the Father, and from that place he is able to give without becoming hardened.

Dear friends, wisdom and compassion belong together. Solomon seeks wisdom to serve well. Jesus embodies wisdom by seeing people not as interruptions, but as persons in need of care. Both show that leadership, service, and daily life require hearts formed by God.

Many people are busy but unsure if they are moving in the right direction. Others feel drained because they give constantly without renewal. Today’s word invites us to pause and ask a different question — not simply what we should do next, but what kind of heart we are bringing to what we do.

The invitation today is simple. Ask God for wisdom before asking for success. Make space for rest that reconnects you with God, not just temporary distraction. Allow compassion, rather than urgency, to guide your actions.

When wisdom shapes our decisions, life becomes clearer. When compassion shapes our work, service becomes meaningful rather than exhausting. And when we remain close to God, we discover that even in busy and demanding seasons, our hearts can remain peaceful, attentive, and capable of bringing rest to others as well.