There is a great humility in today’s first reading. Everybody was praising Solomon for the
incredible beauty of the new Jerusalem temple which he had just finished
constructing. Built of the Cedars of
Lebanon, the Temple would inspire any who came to worship there, and much
adulation was falling to Solomon, it’s builder. However, standing in the midst
of the Temple, Solomon cried out to God: If the heavens and the highest heavens
cannot contain you, how much less this temple which I have built!”
As impressive as the New Temple was, it was so small
compared to the grandeur and beauty of God Himself. Here is a humility we all
do well to emulate to recognize that all of the great works of my life, never
for a moment come close to the great work of God.
Tomorrow begins the great season of Lent, which starts off
with a great act of humility: dirt—ashes—being smeared on our foreheads, the
words, “remember you are dust, and to dust you will return” spoken to each of
us individually. An act of humility in order to combat our sinful pride.
In our sins we are often like the Scribes and Pharisees in
today’s Gospel, who instead of being concerned with the true commandments of
God, become obsessed with human traditions. Even life-long Christians can
become “people who honor God with their lips, but their hearts are far from Him”
as Jesus says in the Gospel.
For we were not made by God to simply seek our own will, to
glorify ourselves. We were made by God to be Temples for Him.
More beautiful than any edifice made by human hands is the
Christian soul united to God devoted to Charity. More beautiful than the
Jerusalem Temple or even Saint Peter’s Basilica, is the Christian soul freed
from selfishness. True humility is more beautiful than any Caravaggio
Masterpiece.
We do well today to prepare ourselves for the great season
of Lent; that Lent may be a time for beautification of our souls: that we may
be worthy Temples of the Lord, purified from sinful habits and attitudes, glorifying
God in our words and deeds, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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