This “Jesus Today” reflection is dedicated to Evan Paul Lynch – a child of God, born into our world this day.
In today’s Old Testament reading (1 Kings 3:5-12) we hear about the encounter between God and King Solomon where God invites Solomon to request anything of God.
And what does Solomon request?
Not wealth, not power, not good health or a long life, not security or protection. Solomon asks for none of this. All Solomon asks for is wisdom – an “understanding heart”, and the ability to live justly according to God’s will. Moreover, Solomon’s request is motivated by his desire to serve his people to the best of his ability. Solomon is more concerned with his people than he is for himself. And of course we hear that God was pleased to grant Solomon’s request.
In today’s gospel (Matthew 13:44-52) we once again hear Jesus speaking about the Kingdom of Heaven – in one parable likening God’s Kingdom to a fine pearl, and in another parable likening God’s kingdom to a buried treasure. In both cases Jesus tells us that the truly wise would give all else up to seek out the pearl and the treasure.
Like Solomon, our most important request of God should be not those “earthly” things that we are so inclined to cling to, but rather, the things of God’s kingdom, God’s wisdom, that which God desires of us, all those spiritual truths that come from God. Like Solomon, our most important request of God is that “understanding heart” that allows us to know and love God more and more, to love what God loves, to value what God values, and to live our lives in the way that God desires. Like Solomon, our request is driven by our aspiration to put others before ourselves and to serve those whom we encounter with kindness and compassion.
Today we hear the Psalmist remind us that God is quick to grant wisdom and an understanding of God’s law – that “understanding heart” – to anyone who humbly submits themselves to God (Psalm 119).
In his letter to the Romans (Romans 8:28-30) St. Paul reminds us that we are all “called according to God’s purpose”. So we know that it is important for us to discern God’s will, to allow ourselves to be endowed with God’s wisdom, to come to understand God’s law.
So like Solomon, we approach our God humbly, reverently, and prayerfully and ask God for the wisdom that only God can provide.