The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night. God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” Solomon said: …Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil… It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this, and God said to him…
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
1 KINGS 3:5-12
The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night. God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” Solomon said:
…Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil…
It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this, and God said to him:
“Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, such as no one has had before you and no one will have after you.”
The first book of Kings recounts the history of the kingdom from the death of David to the year 852, including several important themes, among which stand out the reign of Solomon, the division of the kingdom (Israel in the North and Judah in the South) at the death of Solomon, and the so-called “cycle of Elijah,” in which the deeds of the famous prophet are recounted.
Today’s passage presents Solomon at the beginning of his reign, asking God for Wisdom, preferring it to all goods, as the most precious of treasures.
ROMANS 8:28-30
We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Within the rich themes of the letter, Paul speaks today of God’s care for us, of his plan that humans be children in the image of his Son Jesus, whom he calls “the first-born,” the first of the new humanity.
We run the risk of understanding the word “predestined” in the Lutheran sense: some predestined to salvation and others predestined to eternal condemnation. This is not what it means. It means rather “called” and has nothing to do with the deprivation of freedom but the opposite: God calls, counts on us for the mission, for the Kingdom. This is better for us.
On the other hand, it is futile to get into the word games that Paul sets up, which only serve to obscure the message, so clean and straightforward, of Jesus.
José Enrique Galarreta, S.J.