A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark 7:14-23
Jesus summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand.
Jesus summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand.
The queen of Sheba, having heard of Solomon’s fame, came to test him with subtle questions.
Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of the whole community of Israel, and stretching forth his hands toward heaven, he said, “Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below; you keep your covenant of mercy with your servants who are faithful to you with their whole heart.
This people honors me with their lips,/ but their hearts are far from me;/ In vain do they worship me,/ teaching as doctrines human precepts.
Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of the whole community of Israel, and stretching forth his hands toward heaven, he said, “Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below; you keep your covenant of mercy with your servants who are faithful to you with their whole heart.
After making the crossing to the other side of the sea, Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret and tied up there.
King Solomon and the entire community of Israel present for the occasion sacrificed before the ark sheep and oxen too many to number or count.
