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| Keeping faith with God is to be blessed. |
Reflection on Today’s Readings, Thursday of 5th Week in Ordinary Time II, February 8th, 2024
Texts: 1 Kings 11:4-13; Psalm 106; Mark 7:24-30
Breaking faith with God is going from grace to grass. Solomon broke faith with God, his story changed. We read, “When Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.”
He started to exhibit foolishness. It is said of him thus: “So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not wholly follow the Lord, as David his father had done.” He experienced God’s displeasure for his evil, his foolishness. We read, “And the Lord was angry with Solomon”
We learn from the story of Solomon to keep faith with God always. Keeping faith with God is the path of salvation. In the words of today’s Psalm: “Blessed are they who observe what is just, who at all times do what is right.” Keeping faith with God is to be blessed.
The wise says, “Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them round your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favour and good repute in the sight of God and of people” (Prov. 3:3-4).
An example of wisdom with unwavering faith
The Syrophoenician woman, in today’s gospel reading, gives us an example of wisdom with unwavering faith. Jesus said to her, "Let the children first be fed, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." That word of Jesus was enough to demoralise her and so lose faith in Jesus.
However, she kept faith and responded, "Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." She showed wisdom and unwavering faith. Unlike the woman, Solomon had wisdom but no unwavering faith. She broke faith with God.
Prayer
Help us, O Lord, to always do what is right and just, that we may keep our faith intact; may life challenge never make us break faith with You. Amen
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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