Jackpot

In our lottery- and sweepstakes-obsessed culture, it is common to ask ourselves or others what they would do if they won. In today’s first reading, Solomon certainly hits the jackpot. What prize could be greater than having God Almighty agree to give you whatever you ask for?

Out of all the things he could have asked for, Solomon chose to ask for understanding, and was rewarded with it. We would do well to wonder what we would ask for if God made us the same offer. Actually God does make us the same offer each and every day, by granting us another day of life, a bit of the earth’s goods, some gift or ability, some call to goodness, some portion of the divine will. Each of these is a “prize.” We should stop and examine what we are going to do with our prize: keep it or use it selfishly, or put it at the service of the spread of the gospel?