First Reading

Reading from the first book of Kings 

1 Kings 10:1-10

In those days, the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s fame, and she came to Jerusalem to test him with subtle questions. She arrived with a very large caravan, with camels carrying perfumes, a large quantity of gold, and precious stones. She came to Solomon’s palace and asked the king all the questions she had prepared. Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too difficult for the king to explain to her.

When the queen of Sheba observed Solomon’s great wisdom, the palace he had built, the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attendance of his servants and their dress, his cupbearers and their dress, and the burnt offerings he offered at the temple of the LORD, she was breathless.

«It was a true report that I heard in my own land of your accomplishments and of your wisdom,» she told the king. «I did not believe the report until I came and my eyes had seen it. Not even half was told me; your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report that I heard.

Happy are your people! Happy are these your servants, who continually attend you and hear your wisdom! Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel! Because the LORD loved Israel forever, he has made you king to execute justice and righteousness.»

Then she gave the king one hundred twenty talents of gold, a very great quantity of perfumes, and precious stones; never again came such an abundance of perfumes as the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

Gospel

Reading from the holy Gospel according to Saint Mark 

Mark 7:14-23

At that time, Jesus called the crowd to him again and said to them, «Hear me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.»

When he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. He said to them, «Then do you also fail to understand? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since it enters not the heart but the stomach, and goes out into the sewer?» (Thus he declared all foods clean.)

And he said, «It is what comes out of a person that defiles. For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.»