For several week, in our first readings at daily Mass, we heard from the books of 1st and 2nd Samuel, primarily the stories of the prophet Samuel and the First Kings of Israel, King Saul and King David. This week, hear from the first book of Kings about the story of King Solomon, the son of King David. The Queen of Sheba, who encounters King Solomon today, is a well-know historical figure from the Ancient world. Most historians believe that her kingdom was located either in Yemen in the Middle East or in Ethiopia in Africa. The Queen of Sheba is not only referenced in the Old Testament, but she is also referenced in the in the writings of the historian Josephus from the 1st century. She is also referenced in the holy writings of Islam. The Queen of Sheba approaches Solomon with precious stones and spices in tribute to his reputation for wisdom and holiness.
The wisdom of Solomon was legendary. How do we ourselves cultivate wisdom and holiness in our own lives? Do we spend time in reflection, in spiritual readings, and in prayer in order to gain greater wisdom and understanding? Do we try to live out an intentional life of faith that reflects the values that we learn from Jesus?
Ultimately, we do not know the real reason why the Queen of Sheba visited Solomon. Was it to observe his great wisdom and to learn from him, or was it to test him? No matter what the case was, may we be intent in learning from our journey of faith, growing in wisdom and holiness as disciples of Christ.
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