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At the judgment the queen of the south will arise with this
generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the
earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater
than Solomon here.” Matthew 12:42
In this passage, Jesus refers to the Queen of Sheba who traveled
about 1,400 miles from Southern Arabia, which was most likely
located in either modern-day Yemen or Ethiopia, to meet King
Solomon. The queen had heard much about Solomon, about his wealth
and wisdom, and wanted to find out if all that she heard was true.
So she made the long journey and stayed with him for about six
months, according to tradition. After spending time with him, she
was greatly impressed and bestowed upon him gifts of gold, spices
and precious stones. She said to him, “I did not believe the report
until I came and saw with my own eyes that not even the half had
been told me. Your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report I
heard” (1Kings 10:7).
This foreign queen was deeply impressed with Solomon. Her journey,
gifts and words illustrate her deep respect for him and her
admiration. Jesus uses this story to illustrate the simple fact
that Jesus Himself is much greater than Solomon and that He should
be treated in a way that far surpasses the way the queen treated
Solomon. But Jesus also makes it clear that, at the Final Judgment,
this queen will rise and condemn the scribes and Pharisees because
they failed to see the wisdom and kingship of Jesus. Instead, they
came to Jesus, seeking signs and proof of Who He was.
In our own lives, the witness of the Queen of Sheba should be a
source of true inspiration. She was someone who was powerful and
wealthy herself, and yet she wanted to learn from Solomon and to
benefit from his great wisdom which was given him by God. She
should inspire us to do all we can to daily turn to our Lord and to
seek His wisdom.
Jesus’s wisdom flows to us in many ways. The Gospels are especially
important as a source of the most important lessons for life.
Personal prayer, reading about the lives of the saints, and study
of the teachings of our Church are also essential ways in which we
receive the wisdom given to us by God. As you think about the many
ways that are available to you to grow in the wisdom of God, try to
use the Queen of Sheba as an inspiration. Do you have her same
zeal? Are you willing to devote much time and effort to the pursuit
of holy learning? Do you desire to journey to Jesus in the way that
she desired to journey to Solomon?
One of the greatest hindrances to this pursuit of holy wisdom is
sloth, or laziness. It is becoming increasingly easy to engage our
minds in mindless pursuits. Many people can easily spend many hours
in front of the television, computer or mobile devices and waste
precious time and energy. Zeal for God and the pursuit of the many
truths of faith must become the cure for sloth in our lives. We
must want to know. And we must do all we can to increase that holy
desire within us.
Reflect, today, upon the long journey made by this queen in pursuit
of the wisdom of Solomon. As you do, examine whether you exhibit
the same zeal that she had and how devoted you are to the pursuit
of the wisdom of God. Where you are lacking, let her witness
inspire you. Jesus is infinitely greater and wiser than Solomon,
and we have been given full access to Him through prayer and holy
learning. If you will make that holy journey to our Lord, with much
determination, then unlike the scribes and Pharisees, your day of
judgment will be a glorious one.
My Lord of all Wisdom, You are infinitely greater than the
wisest of kings and more glorious than anything I can imagine.
Please fill me with zeal, dear Lord, so that I will fervently
pursue You and daily journey to You. Please guide my prayer and my
study so that Your wisdom and Your very Self will be bestowed upon
me. Jesus, I trust in You.
Image: Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, Public domain, via Wikimedia
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