Today's Gospel reading sees Jesus rejecting the value of those Pharisaic tradtions which distorts the will of God as revealed in the commandments. He called them hypocrites and cited the prophecy of Isaiah (29:13) against such hypocrisy. For Jesus, laws, customs and practices have only one purpose: for the good of the people and their well-being. So the disciples were told to observe traditions provided they embodied the Gospel values such as love, equality, care and concern and justice. Otherwise, they ought to be discarded. He also emphasized that no human traditions should supersede the divine law of love. If we cling on to such traditions, then it is tantamount to a rejection of God's will.

King Solomon, in the first reading, showed his deep reverence and devotion to the God of a covenantal relationship. In his prayer before the whole assembly of Israel, he submitted himself to God on behalf of the people of Israel and pleaded with God. This attitude in prayer is borne out of a desire to establish a deep relationship with God. Let us then take up the challenge to examine closely our relationship with God.

Do we have such an attitude in our relationship with God or do we only observe Church traditions and devotional practices?