the truth about your love for god
"Empty is the reverence they do Me." —Mark 7:7
The Lord made Solomon the wisest man in the world (1 Kgs 3:12). Solomon used his wisdom to build the temple of the Lord. Solomon was awed by God's work in his life (see 1 Kgs 8:27). Sadly, Solomon's heart did not remain with the Lord (1 Kgs 11:9). He died trapped in idolatrous abominations, alienated from the Lord.
David, Solomon's father, also received exceptional graces from the Lord. His heart was with the Lord. To express his love for the Lord, David composed and sang many of the psalms. However, David committed adultery and murder (2 Sm 11:1ff). Obviously, despite David's devotion to the Lord, he had something very wrong in his relationship with the Lord. Yet David did repent and died in the Lord's love.
The lives of Solomon and David show that we can deceive ourselves about the quality and depth of our relationship with the Lord. While we honor the Lord externally, our hearts may be far from Him (Mk 7:6). We need the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, to guide us to all truth about the authenticity and purity of our relationships with the Lord (see Jn 16:13). We need the Holy Spirit to prove us wrong about any compromises we have made with the ways of the world (Jn 16:8). Come, Holy Spirit of truth and love!
Prayer: Father, may I never be unfaithful to You.
Promise: "You keep Your covenant of kindness with Your servants who are faithful to You with their whole heart." —1 Kgs 8:23
Praise: St. Scholastica founded a religious community five miles from her brother Benedict's monastery.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our tape Don't Stifle the Spirit on audio AV 56-3 or video V-56.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Richard Walling, July 18, 2003
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 24, 2003