1 Kings 3: 5, 7-12
At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask what I should give you.”
Solomon answered: “And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?”
It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you.”
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
What Do You Desire?
If you or I were in Solman’s position, with the ability to ask God for anything, what would we ask of him? If I am honest, I would probably ask from him something that made my life or the life of my loved ones easier. Maybe I would ask him to remove a particular suffering. Maybe I would ask him for clarity regarding my future. What would you ask for?
The young Soloman asks for wisdom, an understanding heart. What a beautiful thing! He asks for empathy.
What are our desires? Do they align with the desires of the kingdom? Sometimes they do. How often have I heard someone tell me in a pastoral setting, all that they desire is to help someone, to improve another’s well-being. At other times, our desires are shaped by the influences around us, and we let the values of the enemy of our human nature—riches, honor, and pride—which are articulated in the Two Standards meditation of the Spiritual Exercises, shape our volition. So, in humility, sometimes we need to admit that what we want is not what God wants.
And, if we find it hard to desire the things we should desire or even be able to articulate that which we desire, St. Ignatius of Loyola gives us some great advice. Maybe it is enough to pray for the desire to have the proper desire. And if that does not sound appealing to you, maybe just follow the wisdom of youth, asking for an understanding heart like Soloman.
—Fr. Paul J. Shelton, SJ, is the provincial assistant for vocations for the Midwest Jesuits. If you are interested in becoming a Jesuit, or know someone who might be a good Jesuit, visit beajesuit.org.
Prayer
The preparatory prayer is to ask God our Lord for the grace that all my intentions, actions, and operations may be ordered purely to the service and praise of the divine majesty.”
—Spiritual Exercises #46