15 Pentecost
Song of Solomon 2:8-13, Psalm 45:1-2, 7-10, James 1:17-27, Mark 71-8, 14-15, 21-23
By John McNamara
Our first reading this morning is taken from the Song of Solomon. King Soloman, son of King David and Bethsheba, was promised wisdom, riches, honor, and long life if he would continue in righteousness before the Lord. The promise was fulfilled. Solomon was wise, wealthy, and powerful. During his life, Solomon became famous for his wisdom. Great men and women from many nations came to hear him and test his understanding and knowledge. Solomon was the builder of the First Temple in Jerusalem dedicated to Yaweh and the last ruler of the United Kingdom of Israel, a kingdom of 4,500 people living on 32 acres. It is estimated that he reigned from 970 to 931B.C. After a reign of 40 years, he died of natural causes, at around 55 years of age. King Solomon’s story is also found in the Quran, where he is identified as one of 48 major Islamic prophets. He is considered a bit of a magician and an exorcist.
King Solomon’s downfall came from having 700 wives. He loved many foreign women; the daughters of the Pharaoh, and Moabite, Ammonite, Edamite, Sido’mian and Hittite women. Perhaps he sung to them the song from the Song of Solomon we read this morning. Perhaps he received wives as gifts from other countries seeking alliances. In any case, he ended up with 700 wives, all royal princesses, and 300 concubines. When Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God. So, Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. Solomon was not wholly true to the Lord his God as was the heart of his father David. Therefore, the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this has been your mind and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded you, I shall surely tear the Kingdom away from you and give it to your servants.”
Christian blogger, Christopher Lee, explains why Solomon’s story has meaning in today’s world. He explains that many people have left the church in recent years. Some have turned their back to God. Others still identify as Christian, but Jesus no longer occupies the throne in their lives. To them, Christianity is more of a cultural tradition than a living faith that informs their everyday choices. In most cases, the change did not happen overnight. People drifted, slowly, but surely, their path diverted from the straight and narrow. Lee explains that our job is not to judge them, but to pray for them. We must remember we are susceptible to the same outcome. We also drift.
Today’s reading is a reminder to those who envy King Solomon. He was loved by God from the day he was born. He was blessed beyond measure. He served the Lord in tremendous ways. Solomon had everything going for him. One might have expected Solomon to have an unshakable faith. Yet, he did not finish well. Later in his life, he let his foreign wives turn his heart to other gods. Based on this lesson, you have to ask yourself, how could anyone protect their faith when they are providing for the needs of 700 wives? Imagine. 700 royal princess wives. (Some suggest the number of his wives was overstated in the literature. However, even 70 wives sounds challenging.) How could anyone sustain a thriving faith in the midst of so many?
James’ message reflects on our gifts; gifts that are from above. Out of God’s own purpose, he gave us birth by the word of truth. We are reborn by the word. “Rid yourself of all wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word, the Gospel which has been received and is now growing, the Gospel that has the power to save your souls. Doers who act will be blessed in their doing.” Religion that is pure and undefiled before God will sustain God’s righteousness in our lives.
James goes on to explain that the perfect law of liberty is to be doers, not merely hearers. The Jewish description of the Mosaic Law is applied to the Gospel here. It is the law through which a believer obtains freedom. Blessed. The work points to the happiness of the person who has God’s favor. James comes to the conclusion that religion consists of more than devotional exercises.
The Gospel reading from the Book of Mark also addresses devotional exercises; eating in the “tradition of the elders.” The pharisees, as usual, question Jesus’s troop on not living according to the tradition of the elders. Whereas, the people were moved by elemental needs, Jesus was moved by human suffering. The religious leaders were concerned with details of ritual. Jesus points out, it is not about the ritual. “It is nothing outside a person that can defile. For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come, and they defile a person. Solomon’s heart was not satisfied with his lot. He wanted more wives, but too many wives led him astray. They distracted him from his relationship with God.
James explains, religion that is pure and undefiled before God will be obtained by keeping oneself unstained by the world. It is through meekness, continual worship, and perseverance that our souls are saved. Our efforts require continuous improvement on our part. When we err, we need to repent and return to God’s righteous way. From within, we direct our thoughts and works toward God’s plan. Through the human heart, we avoid the list of “Don’ts” Jesus offers us; theft, envy, wickedness, etc.
All our lessons today help us see how our lives are blessed beyond measure if we are doers who act, so we will remain blessed in our doing. Be those James mentions, “Those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget, but doers that act – they will be blessed in their doing.
God’s mercy is like the flowing waters of the River Jordan., We have to pray for guidance and heed the messages from God at each bend in the river. Act like we are in control. Pray like God is in control.