Dear Parish Family,

  In the first reading for the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, we hear a reading from the first Book of Kings (3:5,7-12):

"The LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.”" Solomon answered: “O LORD, my God, you have made me, your servant, king to succeed my father David; but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act. I serve you in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong...”

  The reading continues on to tell us that “The Lord was pleased that Solomon made this request.” Solomon had inherited the kingdom of his father, David. He could have asked for more riches or more power. Instead, he asked for wisdom. He asked for an understanding heart.

  We live in the information age. Information is readily available at our finger tips. The question is, however, are we using this information wisely? Does this information necessarily translate into true wisdom?

   The Cambridge Dictionary defines wisdom as: the ability to use your knowledge and experience to make good decisions and judgments (https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/wisdom).” Wisdom is one of the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. They are found in the scriptures in the Book of the prophet Isaiah (11:2-3).

  During these tumultuous times, let’s pray that both we and our leaders will seek the wisdom of the Lord.

God bless you!
Fr. Dan Redmond