FROM BEGINNING TO END - A: 17th Sun in OrdTime

First Reading: 1 Kgs 3:5, 7-12 (July 30, 2023)

“Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” (1 Kgs 3:9).

In the First Reading, King Solomon is described as having commenced his reign over the united kingdoms of Judah and Israel. Unlike his half-brothers, e.g., Amnon (2 Samuel 13), Absalom (2 Samuel 15–18), and Adonijah (1 Kgs 1:5-10), he was not astute and trained in the art of warfare, politics, and governance. Thus, as he began his reign (1 Kgs 1:39-40), he was anxious about what to do, being a neophyte in this arena (3:7). Appearing to him in a dream in Gibeon, God had asked him what he would want to receive at the start of his kingship (v. 5). Instead of asking for longevity, riches, and the immediate destruction of his enemies—scenarios that could bring outright personal, economic, and political stability to his kingdom, respectively—he sought for the gift of wisdom to govern his constituents properly (v. 9). God was so delighted by this request that he showered Solomon with an overflowing number of blessings, particularly “a wise and discerning mind” like no other (v. 12).

In sum, Solomon embarked as a leader with the right disposition by saying the right words and setting the right direction.

However, everything went south in the years that followed. As the lure of riches, glory, pleasure, and power crops in, he has slowly disillusioned away from his Godly vision-mission. He began to desire more affluence, influence, renown, and control. He even went to the point of allowing the advent of pagan practices into Jerusalem that were gradually introduced by his multitude of foreign wives (1 Kgs 11:1-8), especially by Pharaoh's daughter (9:24-25) and the Queen of Sheba (10:13). Moreover, his penchant for constructing enormous, expensive, and elegant monuments—among them include the temple of Jerusalem (1 Kgs 4:15–8:66) and the monarchical palace (7:1; 9:1)—led to more restrictive taxes and forced labor on his citizens (5:27-31). His buildings were so extravagant that he would even import lumber from Lebanon (5:15-24) and buy priced gold from Hiram, the king of Tyre (9:11). His drive for grandeur at the expense of burdening the public triggered many to be dissatisfied with his decisions and policies. Soon, “the Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel” (11:9), cursing him: “I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant…. I will tear it away from your son’s hand” (v. 11-12). True enough, Solomon’s monarchy would be divided between the Northern and Southern kingdoms, ruled by his servant Jeroboam and his son Rehoboam, respectively (1 Kings 12).

In short, even if Solomon had begun his sovereignty on the right foot, he ended with the wrong stance by his unwise and immoral actions that departed from God’s commands.

Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s maiden administration had just finished its first year of governance. So far, the President has relatively spoken the right things in public addresses, unlike his predecessor, who is infamous for his blatant, scandalous, divisive, and vindictive language. However, even if the former has proved to be a statesman and has delivered sweet and promising words, the general public does not feel the development. This is indicated by the skyrocketing prices of basic commodities amidst the significant number of both unemployment and underemployment. We hope that his brand new vision of a “Bagong Pilipinas” would translate to real progress and does not end up being lip service of a traditional politician.

We have learned from the example of King Solomon how even a leader who began rightfully could end up wrongly, brought about by his incorrect emphases and decisions. In this decline, God would not be shy in showing his displeasure and inflicting punishment.

May we pray and work together for good governance in our land... hoping that our leaders will set the example.

- Rex Fortes, CM