Wednesday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time
Mass Readings
First Reading – 1 Kgs 10:1-10
The queen of Sheba, having heard of Solomon’s fame, came to test him with subtle questions. She arrived in Jerusalem with a very numerous retinue, and with camels bearing spices, a large amount of gold, and precious stones. She came to Solomon and questioned him on every subject in which she was interested. King Solomon explained everything she asked about, and there remained nothing hidden from him that he could not explain to her. When the queen of Sheba witnessed Solomon’s great wisdom, the palace he had built, the food at his table, the seating of his ministers, the attendance and garb of his waiters, his banquet service, and the burnt offerings he offered in the temple of the LORD, she was breathless. “The report I heard in my country about your deeds and your wisdom is true,” she told the king. “Though I did not believe the report until I came and saw with my own eyes, I have discovered that they were not telling me the half. Your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report I heard. Blessed are your men, blessed these servants of yours, who stand before you always and listen to your wisdom. Blessed be the LORD, your God, whom it has pleased to place you on the throne of Israel. In his enduring love for Israel, the LORD has made you king to carry out judgment and justice.” Then she gave the king one hundred and twenty gold talents, a very large quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never again did anyone bring such an abundance of spices as the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
Responsorial Psalm – 37:5-6, 30-31, 39-40 (R.30a)
R. The mouth of the just murmurs wisdom.
Commit to the LORD your way;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will make justice dawn for you like the light;
bright as the noonday shall be your vindication. R.
The mouth of the just man tells of wisdom
and his tongue utters what is right.
The law of his God is in his heart,
and his steps do not falter. R.
The salvation of the just is from the LORD;
he is their refuge in time of distress.
And the LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him. R.
Gospel – Mk 7:14-23
Jesus summoned the crowd again and said to them,
“Hear me, all of you, and understand.
Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person;
but the things that come out from within are what defile.”
When he got home away from the crowd
his disciples questioned him about the parable.
He said to them,
“Are even you likewise without understanding?
Do you not realize that everything
that goes into a person from outside cannot defile,
since it enters not the heart but the stomach
and passes out into the latrine?”
(Thus he declared all foods clean.)
“But what comes out of the man, that is what defiles him.
From within the man, from his heart,
come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder,
adultery, greed, malice, deceit,
licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.
All these evils come from within and they defile.”
Featured Saints
St. Apollonia, virgin and martyr (†250). After undergoing torture, she was burned alive in Alexandria, Egypt for refusing to utter blasphemies.
St. Maron, hermit (†c. 423). He lived as a hermit, consecrated to prayer and rigorous penances, on a hilltop near present-day Aleppo, Syria. A famous monastery was built at his graveside, and later a Christian community bearing his name developed at the site.
St. Sabinus, bishop (+566). Friend of St. Benedict, sent as Papal Legate to Constantinople to defend the true doctrine against the Monophysite heresy.
Sts. Primus and Donatus, deacons and martyrs (†c. 361). Stoned to death by a band of Donatist heretics in Lemellefa, in present-day Algeria, while defending an altar being attacked by them.
St. Miguel Febres Cordero, religious (†1910). Member of the Congregation of Christian Brothers, born in Cuenca, Ecuador. He was dedicated to the formation of youth and teachers for almost forty years.
Blessed Leopold of Alpandeire, religious (†1956). Capuchin lay brother, who fulfilled the duties of gardener, doorman, sacristan and almoner. He died in Granada, Spain.
Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, virgin (†1824). Augustinian religious who received the stigmata of the Passion of Our Lord. She used her extraordinary gifts to console all who came to her. She died in Dülmen, Germany at age 49.
St. Raynald, bishop (†1222). Camaldolese monk from the bey of Fonte Avellana; he exercised the episcopal ministry in Nocera, Italy, conserving the habits of monastic life.
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