Wednesday of the Fifth week in Ordinary Time

1st book of Kings

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 holocausts 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.
Happy are your men, happy 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.

Psalms

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.
The mouths of the just utter wisdom;
their tongues speak what is right.
God's teaching is in their hearts;
their steps do not falter.
The salvation of the just is from the LORD;
He is their refuge in time of distress.
The LORD helps them and delivers them;
He delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark

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 a person, that is what defiles.
From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder,
adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.
All these evils come from within and they defile."

St. Apollonia(Virgin and Martyr (+ 249))

SAINT APOLLONIA Virgin and martyr and the Martyrs of Alexandria (+ 249) In 249 AD, a persecution against Christians erupted in Alexandria. Metras, an elderly gentleman, was killed first. He was martyred when a mob pierced his eyes with reeds and then stoned him to death. A woman named Quinta was martyred next. She was led to a pagan temple and commanded to practice pagan rites. When she abstained, the mob dragged her outside and stoned her to death. Following these murders, the houses of the Christians were plundered and looted. St. Apollonia, an elderly virgin, was prominent among the martyrs. Her teeth were beaten out; she was led outside the city, a huge fire was kindled, and she was told she must deny Christ or else be burned alive. She was silent for a while, and then, moved by a special inspiration of the Holy Spirit, she leaped into the fire and died in its flames. The same courage showed itself next year when Decius became emperor; and the persecution grew till it seemed as if the very elect must fall away. The story of Dioscorus illustrates the courage of the Alexandrian Christians, and the esteem they had for martyrdom. He was a boy of fifteen. To the arguments of the judge he returned wise answers. He was proof against torture. His older companions were executed, but Dioscorus was spared on account of his tender years. "Dioscorus," writes Dionysius, Bishop of Alexandria at this time, "remains with us, reserved for some longer and greater combat." There were indeed many Christians who came, pale and trembling, to offer pagan sacrifices. But the judges themselves were struck with horror at the multitudes who rushed to martyrdom. Women triumphed over torture, till at last the judges were glad to execute them and put an end to the ignominy of their own defeat. What shining courage and heroic virtue these men and women displayed must spur us to live ordinary moments with great love, supernatural motive and attentiveness to the presence of God. Amen.

St. Teilo()

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Category: Mass by Year / Catholic Missal 2022 / Catholic Missal of february 2022