Day 146: The Universal Church

1 Kings 4:1-28 Solomon inherited his kingship from his father, David. His governance was a monarchy, with a system of taxation and commerce, which fulfilled the people’s longtime desire for a king to rule Israel in the way other nations were ruled. His military might and well-organized protection of the land allowed Israel to live in peace with its neighbors. 


Ch 4:29-34 Solomon was so endowed with wisdom that many of his sayings and hymns are remembered and often quoted. In those days, wisdom was considered to include not only sound judgement but also a wide-ranging knowledge of history and the sciences.


2 Chronicles 6:1-42 Solomon’s address and prayer, although similar to the corresponding passage in 1 Kings, are adapted for a people returning from exile. First, the covenant is made not “with the fathers” (1 Kgs 8:21), but “with the people of Israel” (2 Chr 6:11), emphasizing that the covenant did not expire with the exile but rather would remain in force for every generation. Similarly, his prayer did not close with a reference to Moses and the Exodus from Egypt (cf. 1 Kgs 8:52-53); rather, it concluded with the verses from Psalms stressing the Davidic Covenant and post-exilic Israel (cf. 2 Chr 6:41-42; Ps 132:8-10). Reflecting the growing separation in Israel between the civil and the priestly authorities, this version has Solomon addressing the assembly not from the altar (cf. 1 Kgs 8:22) but from a special platform (cf. 2 Chr 6:13). (CCCC 58, 2063, 2260)


Psalm 65 In the Temple, the People of God sought forgiveness of their sins and deliverance from evil. The rebellion of sin is mirrored in nature, particularly in the sea, where mighty storms can toss about and threaten the very lives of those who dare to challenge it, yet God, who is an All-powerful Creator, has the sea, with all its turbulence, under his dominion. Just as he can calm the sea, he can remove sin and restore the repentant soul to peace and a renewed life. (Cf. St. John Paul II, General Audience, March 6, 2002)


To you shall all flesh...forgive them: In this impressive list of reasons to praise God, it is significant that his mercy and willingness to forgive rang first among the aspects of his infinite perfection.


The outgoings of the morning...for joy: All creation joins in the praise of God, even the bountiful harvests that he has blessed for Israel’s use. Thanksgiving in response to God’s bountiful goodness is reflected at the beginning of the Liturgy of the Eucharist when the priest blesses God for the Eucharistic bread, the “fruit of the earth,” and wine, the “fruit of the vine.” (CCC 270)

(*The Didache Bible RSV-CE Ignatius Edition, 2006)



Prayer by Fr. Mike: “Father in Heaven, yes all creation, all of creation praises your name. All of creation gives you glory. Father, the fact that we can look around this world that you have made with all of its danger, with all of its distress, but with all of its power and beauty and even mere existence, it all gives praise to you. It all gives you glory. It all points back to you, the creator of this incredible creation. And so we give you thanks, just like David, who wrote Psalm 65. We give you thanks. Thanks for earth’s bounty. Not only is this earth beautiful, this earth provides for us. And so, God, we give you thanks. And we actually also ask you to give us wisdom like you gave wisdom to Solomon to be able to know how to live in this world, how to live in this earth, how to not only give thanks to you for creation, but also how to use this creation in a way that honors you, that honors the gift, and that helps our neighbor. Not just our neighbor that exists, but our neighbor in the future, Lord God. You’ve made all creation for us, for our ancestors, and also for our descendants. And so help us. Give us wisdom to be able to know how to live in this world so we can pass it on to the next generation. But we give you thanks. In all things, Lord God, we give you thanks. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.”

Dustin's Insights 

1 Kg. 4:


2 Chron. 6:


My Study Color Code

Suffering, Martyrdom Places The Church, Sacraments, Divinity Horticultural Imagery People Messianic Kingship Sin, Death, Decay