Today at Holy Mass we hear in the first reading how Solomon, who was the son of the great King David now sits on the throne…David is dead and Solomon is a young man with a big job to do….He realizes he needs help to rule over his people, so he goes to a holy place (Gibeon) to pray…And the Lord appears to him and asks him what he is looking for….Solomon says he wants….”an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong. For who is able to govern this vast people of yours?”….The readings goes on………”The LORD was pleased that Solomon made this request. So God said to him: “Because you have asked for this – not for a long life for yourself, nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies, but for understanding so that you may know what is right – I do as you requested. I give you 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 to equal you. In addition, I give you what you have not asked for, such riches and glory that among kings there is not your like.”……..Notice, with understand came riches for Solomon……This reading echos the very words of Christ….”Seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides”……Are we putting the cart before the horse?…..For those who pray the Rosary daily as Our Lady asked of us at Fatima…In the Fifth Joyful Mystery - The Finding of Jesus in the Temple - We meditate on how Jesus put God above all things - Even his family - And in doing so - All things were given to him…..…”After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers”……..This should be a great lesson for us to take note of…..The First Commandment tells us - Love the Lord your God above all things - And then and only then can we love our neighbor as our self……Do we put God first?...Idols come in all shapes and sizes - Even “good things” can turn into an idol that we place before God….The devil is shrewd…So be vigilant and seek first the Kingdom of God and all things will be given to you!
“My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me”
In Catholic teaching we are told that there are seven gifts given to us by the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord….How does one obtain these gifts? - By living in the state of grace….How does one live in the state of grace? - By going to frequent Sacramental Confession (at least once a month) and receiving the Blessed Sacrament at least once a week (Sunday)…..By doing this “all things” will be given to us! - Including the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, which in turn will assist us on our earthly journey to heaven…..These gifts can not be self manufactured as many Christians incorrectly believe…One can be highly intelligent, analytically speaking, and still not possess these seven gifts…..And why goes God in his infinite wisdom provide a practicing catholic with seven gifts?…….Because we need them!…..The road to heaven is long and hard…..Discerning the many choices that stand before us in this world today is difficult - How many people fail? - How many people choose wrongly and “get lost”? - How many people fall never to “get up” again?……Our Lord himself tells us…..“Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit?”……How hard it is to persevere in our given vocations - To stay “on the road” - To pray daily and fast weekly - To stay focused…..In order to do all these things - We need grace! - We also need the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit…Because again, Jesus reminds us - “Without me, you can do nothing!
“Lord, teach me your statutes. In the way of your decrees I rejoice, as much as in all riches”
King Solomon in the first reading from Mass reminds us that God must come first….Nothing is more important than our relationship with God - Nothing!……When we put God first, everything else finds its proper place….A life built upon the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit will obtain all things….Is this model for living emphasized in our schools? - To our children? - All the “high achieving” children in America striving for “success” - Do we teach our children that without the Holy Spirit and the gifts that come with it, there is a good chance that any “success” we achieve can be so easily lost!…….Jesus reminds us each and every day in the Gospels read to us at Mass……………..“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined”……..Are we convinced that without God we can do nothing? - I believe the poor and the humble of the world are convinced - But what about those who are truly gifted? - Those with great intellects - Those who have been born into prominent families - Like King Solomon - Those who have been given or earned great wealth?……..Do all these people believe - “Without God, you can do nothing”……..The devil plays the “long game” and is very aware of human nature - Many times the devil gives us “the rope we hang ourselves with”…..This is why we need “eyes to see” - This is why we need to always stay in the state of grace - This is why we need the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit…….Those who have ears let them hear!……Pride always comes before the fall…..JMJ
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