“Give your servant a heart to understand how to discern between good and evil,” was the response given by King Solomon when God had prompted him to ask for a favour.
I think this should be the prayer of every Christian in the present-day context. When we see and feel a lot of evil around us, it is highly possible that we may choose what is evil as good and vice versa. In fact, the modern generation, influenced by present-day social media, is likely to accept what the majority says is right and just. Hence, in our daily prayers we need to ask for God’s discerning Spirit.
When Solomon came to power there was much confusion and tension. The last days of King David were not as great as the earlier days of his reign. David was old and weak. Some of his sons, relatives and political rivals took advantage of his weakness and conspired to gain power. There were many divisions and much civil unrest. In this context, the young Solomon seeks God’s help to govern his father’s mighty kingdom. When he goes to the shrine in Gibeon to offer prayers and sacrifices to God – God blesses his heart’s desire in a dream and promises the wisdom to discern what is good from evil.
Contrary to the general human tendency, Solomon sought wisdom. He knew that only wisdom would help him in his situation to become a good statesman, smart politician, just judge, great builder and a studious economist. Psychology has shown us that human pursuits, in general, tend to be concentrated toward becoming powerful, amassing wealth and indulging in pleasure. If given the choice, people are more likely to choose what they desperately need at that particular moment, rather than what is genuinely good for them.
Today’s Scripture sheds some light on what is profoundly good for us. The parable of the treasure hidden in the field and the parable of the merchant who found the pearl of great value, tell us how to act when we realize what we were searching for. Wisdom leads us to the greatest treasure we can ever find. It may come to us a gratuitous gift like the treasure hidden in the field or it may be a lifelong diligent search like that of the merchant. In any case, when we find it, we need to ‘sell all that we have’ and without delay go after that which we have found.
The treasure of extraordinary value is always there to be found. But the sad part is that we search for it through our worldly appetites.
-Fr. Ranjan D’Sa OCD