5th Week in Ord. Time, Tuesday – 6th February 2024 – 1 Kings 8,22-23.27-30; Mark 7,1-13
Incomprehensible Presence
In the first reading, in response to the dedication of the Temple, Solomon makes his long prayer (1 Kgs 8,1-66) publicly in the presence of all the people. His prayer is very enriching and edifying: Prayer of dedication (1 Kgs 8,22-53), blessing the assembly with the divine name (1 Kgs 8,54-61), and offering sacrifices of oxen and sheep (1 Kgs 62-66). He begins by indicating the uniqueness of the God of Israel. He was humbled and awestruck that God, who is all-powerful and omni-presence, should choose to make the divine presence especially manifested in the Temple which Solomon has built. He, then, refers to the covenant principle of mutual faithfulness – God towards his people, the people towards their God. No other god has acted in history as has the God of Israel, performing great miracles and so directing the course of events, so that his long-range covenant promises are fulfilled. Yahweh has kept his promises to the people, who for their part are faithful to him with their whole heart. Solomon then concludes his prayer by begging God to listen to his people’s prayers and petitions and to forgive their sins, “when they pray toward this place”. This is a marvelous source of comfort for us that we direct our prayers towards the place where God has pledged to be present among his people. Some saints of the past are best examples in this direction focused prayer.
