The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to explore our Spiritual Tradition as an opportunity to grow in appreciation of the Way in practice over time.
The Reading from the First Letter of Kings presents Solomon’s Prayer.
* [8:1–66] The account of the Temple’s dedication ceremony is organized concentrically: Solomon gathers the assembly (vv. 1–13), blesses it (vv. 14–21), utters a long dedicatory prayer (vv. 22–53), blesses the assembly again (vv. 54–61), and dismisses it (vv. 62–66). To this account is appended an appearance of the Lord to Solomon (9:2–9) that balances the divine word to Solomon in the account of the Temple’s construction (6:11–13). (1 Kings, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 84 expresses the sentiments of the pilgrims eager to enjoy the divine presence.
* [Psalm 84] Israelites celebrated three pilgrimage feasts in Jerusalem annually. The Psalm expresses the sentiments of the pilgrims eager to enjoy the divine presence. (Psalms, PSALM 84 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus reviews the Tradition of the Elders.
* [7:1–23] See note on Mt 15:1–20. Against the Pharisees’ narrow, legalistic, and external practices of piety in matters of purification (Mk 7:2–5), external worship (Mk 7:6–7), and observance of commandments, Jesus sets in opposition the true moral intent of the divine law (Mk 7:8–13). (Mark, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB, n.d.)
Angela Maynard asks “Why does one keep a tradition? Out of habit, or reverence?”
As we prepare to enter the season of Lent, it may be beneficial to reflect on our outward forms of godliness and where our hearts are as we practice these traditions.
If you have read my past reflections, you know I really like the saints. Today is the Memorial of St. Scholastica. My grandmother was a student at Mt. St. Scholastica in Atchison, Kansas, in the 1930’s. Although I never knew her (she died at the age of 38), I recently had the opportunity to get a glimpse of her as I read her journal from rhetoric class at Mt. St. Scholastica in the Fall of 1933. I took some time to learn a bit about St. Scholastica. I had no idea she was St. Benedict’s twin sister. She is the patron Saint of nuns, schools, tests, reading, and convulsive children. She is invoked against storms and rain. Like her twin brother, St. Scholastica was a very God-centered, holy woman. Perhaps this prayer can help us keep God’s word and example close so we can live our lives with the purpose for which we were genuinely created.
Saint Scholastica, you and your brother shared not only the same family, but you were also deeply united in a spiritual friendship centered on God. Please pray for me, that I may discover friends who assist me on my journey through this world and that I may be such a friend to others. Saint Scholastica and Saint Benedict, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You. (Maynard, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Mammon refuses to provide for parents in old age”, by John Chrysostom (347-407 AD).
"Christ says, 'Care for the poor' (Matthew 19:21; Mark 10:21; Luke 14:13); Mammon says, 'Take away even those things the poor possess.' Christ says, 'Empty yourself of what you have' (Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23); Mammon says, 'Take also what they possess.' Do you see the opposition, the strife between them? See how it is that one cannot obey both, but must reject one?... Christ says, 'None of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions' (Luke 14:33); Mammon says, 'Take the bread from the hungry.' Christ says, 'Cover the naked' (Matthew 25:34-40; Isaiah 58:7); the other says, 'Strip the naked.' Christ says, 'You shall not turn away from your own family (Isaiah 58:7), and those of your own house' (1 Timothy 5:8; Galatians 6:10); Mammon says, 'You shall not show mercy to those of your own family. Though you see your mother or your father in want, despise them' (Mark 7:11)." (excerpt from HOMILIES ON PHILIPPIANS 6.25) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on 1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30 asks “Can it be that God dwells in my parish? We don’t have a lot of money. Our OCIA class is very small, and our faith formation program is always short of volunteers. Our pastoral council and other groups can seem like cliques at times. And yet faith tells me that God is here. He is present in the tabernacle, where heaven meets earth. He is present in the people when we celebrate Mass. He is present, not because we are the best parish, but because he loves us.
“Can it be that God dwells in my family? We don’t always get along. There’s usually someone who is caught up in some kind of trouble. Not every marriage is a stellar witness to divine love. And not everyone is faithful to the Church’s teachings. And yet I know that we all want to love one another, even if we don’t always show it. I believe that no matter what happens, the Lord is with us, ready to help anyone who turns to him.
“Can it be that God dwells with his people? With me? Yes! Not because we are saints, but because he is faithful. Simply because he loves us. And he will never stop loving us—any of us!”
“Jesus, I am in awe that you dwell with us. Lord, open my eyes to see your glory!” (Meditation on 1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments how the Ark was brought into the Temple and Solomon prays over the Ark showing that the kings had priestly function. Solomon dedicates the Temple as a place to call upon God. In sacred places God is not “More” present but we have special places where we can appreciate the Presence of God. Jesus and the disciples seem to not follow the prescriptions of the Law in it’s widest interpretation, like making eating like praying to require washing. Maybe their interpretations were not from God but they may be hypocrites in their following of the Law as in deserting parents is improper interpretation of the Law which Friar Jude reminds us is to call us to the service of the Lord and each other.
Father Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Dr. Brian Bantum who reflects on the story of Adam and Eve as one that initiates us into the freedom of individuality and difference, for good and for ill.
In our disobedience a new world opened up. We could see. The serpent was not lying in some respects; we human beings continued to breathe and think and love. But something had changed…. With this new knowledge we could no longer see the blessed significance of our bodies, of our lives together. The knowledge we gained drove us into hiding, hiding our bodies from one another and hiding ourselves from God. We were terrified by a true knowledge of our incapacity. But this knowledge did not lead us to cry out, to see ourselves truthfully.…
Yet, Adam and Eve remained God’s children, unique creatures with whom God desired to dwell, to love and be loved by. In this moment we did not lose the image of God. God did not withhold God’s animating Spirit and love toward us, but something changed nonetheless. (Rohr, n.d.)
We seek the guidance of the Spirit as we wrestle with the challenges of appropriately representing tradition in teaching about our Faith.
References
Mark, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 10, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/7?1
Maynard, A. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved February 10, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-february-10-2026
Meditation on 1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30. (n.d.). Retrieved February 10, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/02/10/1497280/
1 Kings, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 10, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1kings/8?22
Psalms, PSALM 84 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 10, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/84?3
Rohr, R. (n.d.). A Knowledge of Difference. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved February 10, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-knowledge-of-difference/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Rejecting the Commandments of God. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved February 10, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
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