Click here for today’s Scripture readings.

1 Kgs 11:4-13
Mk 7:24-30

During the cycle of readings for weekday Mass in Ordinary Time, both biblical selections rarely focus on the same topic. However, today’s passages converge to highlight the importance of genuine faith in what God has truly revealed.  In doing so, these two readings give us two contrasting biblical models from which to learn important lessons for our own spiritual journey.

Solomon, one of the sons of King David, was “born into the faith” of Israel, and was even chosen by God to construct the original temple at Jerusalem (1 Kings 7).  Unfortunately, his yen for building temples led him to satisfy the insistent requests of his many wives who brought their favorite religious superstitions with them to Jerusalem. Solomon’s failure to persevere in honoring the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as the one, true God bequeathed much confusion to his descendants even centuries after his death.

In contrast to this failure, the Gospel presents the Syrophoenician woman, who did not share in Jewish faith in the time of Jesus.  But this poignant episode of Jesus’ journey into the Gentile towns of Northern Galilee dramatically shows this woman’s perseverance in professing genuine faith in Jesus whom she comes to know as a man full of God’s Spirit. The retelling of her passionate commitment in the Gospels of Mark and Matthew has encouraged countless other Gentile unbelievers to listen wholeheartedly to the Christian proclamation of Jesus as savior of both body and spirit.

Solomon and the Syrophoenician woman began their personal faith journeys in two very different ways. We can hear the same diversity of faith stories all around us today if we listen closely. Some of us were born into families who cherished their religious faith and fostered the prayerful traditions, which encouraged us to make our own personal affirmation of God’s revelation and the uniqueness of Jesus.  Yet so many other people come to genuine faith in God’s revelation by diverse paths of experience, especially through the good influence of many believers who witness to their own faith. Ultimately, God is ingenious in seeking us out in as many ways as we are individuals.

These stories once again invite us to ask ourselves, “How do I witness my Christian faith in practical ways in the course of the day and week? Is it a treasure which I keep to myself, or do I share it with others generously?”

(Father Paul Zilonka, C.P. is a member of the Passionist Preaching Team of St. Paul of the Cross Province).