Saturday of the 4th week in ordinary time
1 Kings 3: 4-13 Mark 6: 30-34
Theme: A selfless request
The situation that plays out in the 1st reading of today between Solomon and God, can be likened to a man that is given a blank cheque, to fix whatever he desires. Interestingly, what Solomon requested from God, is what most of us would not have done. God gave him the opportunity to request for anything he likes, and he will grant it to him, Solomon requested for the gift of discernment to lead his people. In the request of Solomon, you see a very selfless man, that has the good of his people at heart. God was greatly impressed by the choice that was made by Solomon, and he granted it and gave him some other things that he did not request from him. This is because his request was selfless.
The blessings that were added to the request of Solomon by God, simply points to the fact that God knows what is always best for us and is ever ready to make it available to us, if we do what is right in his sight. You can imagine what most of our leaders in our own time would have requested from God. Taking into consideration the fact that many are ready to go to any extent to get power and wealth. These were added to what Solomon requested from God, he did not see them as necessities for him to be a good king. He was more concerned about the welfare of the people he was going to lead, and not what he stands to gain because of his position. This points out the fact that when we deal with both God and one another with a sincere heart, the blessings of God will locate us. Any good and selfless action that we carry out in our lives, attracts the blessings of God to us. If the request of Solomon were to be selfish, probably he would have gotten only the thing he requested from God, without anything else. But the story was different because he made a selfless request for the good of his people, and God blessed him with other things he did not request from him. What does that say to us, we have to strive to live a selfless life, instead of a selfish and self-centered life.
We pray that God will grant us the wisdom to make the right choices in our lives, in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit, Amen. Peace be with you.