Daily Retreat 02/08/06

2006 Feb 8 Wed: Ordinary Weekday/ Jerome Emiliani, p, rf/ Josephine Bakhita, v

1 Kgs 10: 1-10/ Ps 36(37): 30-31. 39-40/ Mk 7: 14-23

From today’s readings: "The queen of Sheba, having heard of Solomon’s fame, came to test him with subtle questions.... The salvation of the just is from the LORD; He is their refuge in time of distress.... 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. "

The Queen of Sheba’s Example

Jesus Himself gave the best commentary for the first reading’s report of the queen of Sheba’s visit to Solomon: "At the judgment, the queen of the south will arise with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here." (Matthew 12:42).

Jesus gave His comment in answer to the scribes and Pharisees who were endlessly seeking a sign from Him. He had already healed numerous incurables, but that wasn’t enough for them. He had already outlined the path to Heaven in His Sermon on the Mount, but that wasn’t enough for them.

As the saying goes, for some who do not believe, no proof is possible. But for those who, like the Queen of Sheba, spend the time and effort necessary for a fair investigation of scriptural claims, the result is that what is discovered exceeds even the greatest initial expectations! Likewise, whenever people take Christ seriously, the results are astounding! But when people are content to keep their distance from Christ and His Church, then they join the generation that will suffer condemnation for not learning from the Queen of Sheba’s example.