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The need for priorities in life

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A), I Kings 3:7-12. [Lectionary 109, July 24, 2005]

The two books of Samuel in the Old Testament recount the history of God’s people in the promised land from the period of the last "judges" (Israelite warlords who would be called by God to defend the people as needed) through the reign of Saul, the first king, to the end of the reign of King David. (David’s reign began about 1000 B.C.) The two books of Kings recount the people’s history from the time of King Solomon to the destruction of Jerusalem in 587 B.C.

This Sunday’s Old Testament reading is from near the beginning of The First Book of Kings. King David had grown old and feeble. He had survived the attempted revolution of his son, Absolom. As he came closer to death, another son, Adonijah attempted to get himself named king to succeed his father, David. At this time, kingship was not passed automatically to the eldest son, but to the son chosen by the father. Some time previously, David had promised to confer the throne on Solomon, the son of himself and Bathsheeba. As Adonijah was organizing his supporters, Bathsheeba and others came to David to remind him of his promise. David then had Solomon anointed king to succeed him and died soon thereafter. Solomon’s reign would be long and, in many ways glorious, though disappointing in the end. Our reading shows us the young king praying in the presence of God, the God who had so loved and supported Solomon’s father, David.

God tells Solomon to ask for whatever he wants. Solomon responds in humble submission that he is still unskilled and that he recognizes that his responsibilities are great. He asks for the gift to govern well for the good of the people. That would be more important than anything else. God is pleased with Solomon’s request, and gives him what he had asked for: an understanding and wise heart, a heart so wise and understanding "that there has never been anyone like you up to now, and after you there will come no one equal to you." In the verses that come immediately after our reading, God also promises to give Solomon gifts that he had not asked for: riches, and glory, and a long life.

Solomon — at least at this early time in his long life and reign — knew that the most important thing he had to do was to rule well and wisely over God’s people. This was more important than any personal gifts he might have desired. And he asks God for the ability to do that. God is pleased because Solomon’s priorities and God’s priorities are the same: the well-being of the people.

This reading seems to have been chosen to correspond to the first two parables that the church offers us in the gospel reading (Matthew13:44-52): the parable of the treasure in the field and the parable of the merchant in search of fine pearls. Here, too, we have a question of priorities. Everything is secondary to the treasure in the field. Nothing is more important than the pearl of great price.

We all have priorities in our lives, whether we are aware of them or not. Some people’s lives, consciously or unconsciously, are directed by the pursuit of wealth or comfort or security. Some people’s lives are directed by the love of God and neighbor. Our priorities, whatever they may be, are what determine what kind of a life we have, and whether it is a self-serving life or a godly life.

Jesus’ parables remind us that it is reasonable, even necessary to have priorities, to be aware that some things are more important than others, that no sacrifice is too great to acquire what is really important. And our Old Testament reading teaches us that one of the most basic priorities for a person of faith is the determination to do that which God wants done. In Solomon’s case, it was the care of God’s people. In our case, it is love and concern for our neighbor in accord with what God wants for that neighbor.

Having the right priorities, having priorities that are in harmony with the priorities of God is what constitutes wisdom. And that’s what God confers on Solomon. That’s what God invites us to pursue in our relationship with Him. Wisdom does not mean the ability to work out esoteric problems that ordinary people can’t handle. Wisdom means having the right priorities and knowing how to apply those priorities to the nuts and bolts of our ordinary life. Wisdom is not just for kings. Wisdom is something that God offers to every believer. It is something that every believer needs.

For discussion and reflection

What/who is really important in my life?

How does my life involve wisdom?



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	*Overtures* Reflection on the first readings of the Sunday liturgy By Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk The need for priorities in life Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A), I Kings 3:7-12. [Lectionary 109, July 24, 2005] The two books of Samuel in the Old Testament recount the history of God’s people in the promised land from the period of the last "judges" (Israelite warlords who would be called by God to defend the people as needed) through the reign of Saul, the first king, to the end of the reign of King David. (David’s reign began about 1000 B.C.) The two books of Kings recount the people’s history from the time of King Solomon to the destruction of Jerusalem in 587 B.C. This Sunday’s Old Testament reading is from near the beginning of The First Book of Kings. King David had grown old and feeble. He had survived the attempted revolution of his son, Absolom. As he came closer to death, another son, Adonijah attempted to get himself named king to succeed his father, David. At this time, kingship was not passed automatically to the eldest son, but to the son chosen by the father. Some time previously, David had promised to confer the throne on Solomon, the son of himself and Bathsheeba. As Adonijah was organizing his supporters, Bathsheeba and others came to David to remind him of his promise. David then had Solomon anointed king to succeed him and died soon thereafter. Solomon’s reign would be long and, in many ways glorious, though disappointing in the end. Our reading shows us the young king praying in the presence of God, the God who had so loved and supported Solomon’s father, David. God tells Solomon to ask for whatever he wants. Solomon responds in humble submission that he is still unskilled and that he recognizes that his responsibilities are great. He asks for the gift to govern well for the good of the people. That would be more important than anything else. God is pleased with Solomon’s request, and gives him what he had asked for: an understanding and wise heart, a heart so wise and understanding "that there has never been anyone like you up to now, and after you there will come no one equal to you." In the verses that come immediately after our reading, God also promises to give Solomon gifts that he had not asked for: riches, and glory, and a long life. Solomon — at least at this early time in his long life and reign — knew that the most important thing he had to do was to rule well and wisely over God’s people. This was more important than any personal gifts he might have desired. And he asks God for the ability to do that. God is pleased because Solomon’s priorities and God’s priorities are the same: the well-being of the people. This reading seems to have been chosen to correspond to the first two parables that the church offers us in the gospel reading (Matthew13:44-52): the parable of the treasure in the field and the parable of the merchant in search of fine pearls. Here, too, we have a question of priorities. Everything is secondary to the treasure in the field. Nothing is more important than the pearl of great price. We all have priorities in our lives, whether we are aware of them or not. Some people’s lives, consciously or unconsciously, are directed by the pursuit of wealth or comfort or security. Some people’s lives are directed by the love of God and neighbor. Our priorities, whatever they may be, are what determine what kind of a life we have, and whether it is a self-serving life or a godly life. Jesus’ parables remind us that it is reasonable, even necessary to have priorities, to be aware that some things are more important than others, that no sacrifice is too great to acquire what is really important. And our Old Testament reading teaches us that one of the most basic priorities for a person of faith is the determination to do that which God wants done. In Solomon’s case, it was the care of God’s people. In our case, it is love and concern for our neighbor in accord with what God wants for that neighbor. Having the right priorities, having priorities that are in harmony with the priorities of God is what constitutes wisdom. And that’s what God confers on Solomon. That’s what God invites us to pursue in our relationship with Him. Wisdom does not mean the ability to work out esoteric problems that ordinary people can’t handle. Wisdom means having the right priorities and knowing how to apply those priorities to the nuts and bolts of our ordinary life. Wisdom is not just for kings. Wisdom is something that God offers to every believer. It is something that every believer needs. For discussion and reflection** What/who is really important in my life? How does my life involve wisdom?

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