What Would You Ask?

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Brooklyn Center, MN

Sunday, July 26, 2020

Solomon, also named Jedidiah, was the son of King David and Bathsheba. He was not the oldest son of David, but David promised Bathsheba that Solomon would be the next king. While David was still the king, his older Son, Adonijah declared a palace coup and made himself the king. But he was outsmarted and outmaneuvered by Solomon’s mother, Bathsheba and the prophet Nathan, who urged David to declare Solomon king according to his earlier promise. Solomon was thereby anointed a king while his father, David, was still alive. He inherited a considerable empire from his father. Like his father David, Solomon was also devoted to God. God was pleased with him and accepted his ordination as the king of his chosen people, Israel. Solomon was a young man, untried, untested, and inexperienced. As such, he had self-doubt as anyone of his age would about his ability to lead the great nation of Israel. So, in his dream, the Lord appeared to him and said, “Ask something of me and I will it to you.” That’s huge! When Solomon opened his mouth, he did not ask for money/wealth, power, honor, death to enemies, or fame. He did not ask God to help him control the whole world and make everyone submissive to him. He did not even ask God for good health, long life and an easy life. He only asked for wisdom: Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong.

Solomon asked for an understanding heart to judge his people and to distinguish right from wrong, and God was so pleased with him and promised to do as he requested. Now, when the Bible says that God was pleased with Solomon, it does not mean that Solomon gave God what will make God happy. No! God does not need anything from us to be happy. What pleases God is what makes us fully alive. God was happy with Solomon because the answer that Solomon gave is the answer that will make him fully alive and spiritually alert. Solomon was asking that his very life be seen from the standpoint of God. Wisdom is not looking at one’s life from the perspective of others, from what the culture expects but from that of God. Solomon asked for wisdom. He knew that with wisdom in his heart, he will judge things right. He will know what to do whatever comes his way. If a wealthy person has wisdom, he or she will know what to do with that wealth. If he gains power and becomes powerful, he will know what to do with that power. He won’t abuse it or use it for his own end and purpose. He won’t twist it for his selfish gain. If he is victorious over his enemy, he will know what to do with that victory. If given long life, he won’t squander it or use it for self-destruction.

God’s outreach to Solomon to make any request from him brings to mind the encounter between Elijah and Elisha when Elijah was passing the mantle of spiritual leadership to Elisha. As the ceremony was taking place, Elijah said to Elisha, “Request whatever I might do for you, before I am taken from you” (1 Kings 2:9). Elisha asked for a double portion of his master’s spirit. It also reminds us of the story of Jesus and two of the disciples of John the Baptist. The Gospel says that after John saw Jesus walk by, he said to the two of his disciples with him, “Behold, the lamb of God.” Upon hearing John’s declaration, the two disciples left him and followed Jesus. As they were following, Jesus turned and said to them, “What are you looking for? Interestingly, their response to Jesus’ question was a question as well, “Rabbi, where do you stay?” Jesus replied, “Come and see.” And they followed him and stayed with him the whole day (John 1:35-39). Remember Jesus asking the blind Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?” Of which Bartimaeus wonderfully answered, “Lord, I want to see!” (Mark 10:46-51). Story has it that after St. Thomas Aquinas has written a masterpiece on the Eucharist, he still felt that what he has written so far was not sufficient enough. So, he went before a crucifix and prayed intensely for more inspiration. As he prayed, he heard a voice say to him, “Thomas, you have written well of me. What would you have as reward?” Thomas replied, “Non Nisi Te, Domine” (Nothing but you, Lord”). 

Sisters and brothers, wisdom is key. Without wisdom, we are dangerous. A wealthy and powerful man without wisdom is dangerous. Look around us. Powerful people, young people, young athletes and celebrities who gain power, wealth and fame but lacks wisdom. Look at what happened to them eventually. Put yourself in Solomon’s shoe. Put yourself in Bartimaeus shoes. Put yourself in Elisha’s shoe. If the Lord stands before you and says: Ask something of me and I will do it. I will give you whatever you ask me, what would be your request? Bear this in mind! The answer you give will say a lot the state of your soul. Surely, the temptation to ask for one of those worldly goods will be there. That is the human person for you. A lot of us may have more than one request to make. This may appear very sanctimonious. But if the Lord appears to me now and tells me he will give me whatever I ask, I will no doubt ask for a double portion of Jesus’ spirit. That’s all I need. With Jesus, I am perfectly satisfied.