August 16, 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time: 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14
If Solomon were an older and more experienced ruler when God appears to him in his dream, I wonder if he would ask for wisdom.
The quest for knowledge may be pursued at higher speeds with smarter tools today,” writes Arianna Huffington. “But wisdom is found no more readily than it was three thousand years ago in the court of King Solomon. In fact, ours is a generation bloated with information and starved for wisdom.”
After Solomon becomes king, God appears to him in a dream and gives him a life-changing invitation: “Ask what I should give you.” Solomon begins his answer by acknowledging God’s love for his father, David—a love that has placed Solomon on his father’s throne, so that David’s legacy and family line will continue. Solomon describes himself as “only a little child”—perhaps a reference to his youthfulness (although his exact age here is unknown), or a figure of speech reflecting his sense of the enormity of his responsibility as king.
Then Solomon finally turns to his request, asking God for “an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil.” Solomon asks for wisdom. This might be the wisest thing Solomon ever does.
