I Can't Do This Without You
Solomon went to the holiest place he could and offered the biggest sacrifice he could. He had just been named king. And he was humble enough to know he wasn’t going to succeed by himself.
That was the story of Saturday’s first reading (1 Kings 3:4-13). I thought it was remarkable that Solomon told God in prayer that he was just a youth and didn’t know what he was doing. How many young people have shunned advice and said they already know everything! I considered how well David taught his son to honor God in humility.
Solomon offered a big sacrifice and God went big in return. Coming to Him in a dream, God said, “Whatever you ask, I will give it to you (verse 5).”
And Solomon - in asking for understanding, counsel and wisdom - ultimately replied, “I want you, Lord,” because we know from Isaiah 11:2-3 that these three - along with knowledge, holy fear, piety and fortitude - are the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
It was a really good answer. Would you have answered so well?
I have been thinking about this effort of mine to write. Saint Paul says today in the Sunday second reading, “If I preach the Gospel, this is no reason for me to boast, for obligation was imposed upon me (1 Corinthians 9:16).” Interestingly, God assigned me to proclaim at Mass today through the schedule of lectors and I identified with it well; I was in the confessional when God said through his priest that He wanted me to write.
But the effort to write every day on God’s behalf is not an effort that I can do without Him. How can I think of something to say every day? How can I say things that are true and meaningful to others? How can I say something that is pleasing to Him and abide in His will? How can I give comfort and chastisement as He sees fit? How can I persevere when the day comes that I get tired of writing or don’t feel inspired or forget entirely that He really did ask me to do this?
I sat in the chapel today and told Him that in response to the same question He gave Solomon, my answer is that I want Him. I need Him to come with me to accomplish the things He wants me to do. If I have Him, everything else will fall into place.
You also have a mission. Are you already doing it? Are you still waiting to hear what it is? The Lord calls you to do something and I don’t think you can do it alone. Jesus said, “Apart from me, you can do nothing (John 15:10).” But you can do it with Him. With His empowerment, you will be victorious.
That’s what I’m trying to focus on today as I consider this very big project that the Lord asked me to take on. I don’t have a thousand sacrifices and I can’t go to the Vatican or the Holy Land. But I asked today in front of the tabernacle for His blessing and to be filled with the Holy Spirit. May the Lord give those things to each of us so we can accomplish the mission He has for us.
Come Holy Spirit: fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love!