May God Keep Us Wise
February 11, 2026
Fr. John Riccardo
Brothers and sisters, we speak a wisdom to those who are mature, not a wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age who are passing away. Rather, we speak God’s wisdom, mysterious, hidden, which God predetermined before the ages for our glory, and which none of the rulers of this age knew; for, if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written: ‘What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love Him’, this God has revealed to those who love Him. For the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God (1 Corinthians 2:6-10).
Whenever I hear the word “wisdom” I am usually quick to think of Solomon. This is especially true right now, since in the readings for daily Mass we’ve been making our way of late through 1st Kings, and the story of Solomon.
Shortly after succeeding his father, David, as King of Israel, Solomon has an encounter with God in a dream. In the dream, God tells him, “Ask me for something, and I will give it to you.” What a moment! Can you imagine? The Lord God, creator of heaven and earth and all that is in them, tells you to ask for a gift and He will gladly hand it on.
What would you ask for? Financial security? Your health, or the health of a loved one? A dream home?
Solomon asks for wisdom, so as to govern and live well. At first glance, that might look like an incredibly lame selection. But it’s not at all. What is wisdom? It’s not to be confused with intelligence. Wisdom is the capacity to see reality as it truly is. The opposite of wisdom is foolishness, that is, the inability to see reality as it truly is. Needless to say, there are a lot of educated and intelligent fools.
God is beyond pleased with Solomon’s choice, and not only makes him so wise that people come from all over to consult with him, but also blesses Solomon with riches and protection from his enemies - -things he did not ask for. So far so good. However, I’ve been sobered by the story of Solomon more than I can ever remember this time around.
This man, whom God Himself says will be “wiser than any who has ever come before or will come after,” the one God chooses to build the Temple, His dwelling place, in Jerusalem — something He did not allow David to do, ends up being a disaster. He not only abandons marital fidelity and takes 700 (!?!) wives and 300 (!?!) concubines, he builds temples to Ashtoreth, Chemosh and Molech — gods who either demanded human sacrifice or encouraged wanton sexual excess. As a result of this reckless and idolatrous behavior, the Kingdom of Israel is torn in two, never to be united. How could such a man fall so far? What are we to take from his story? What lessons and warning are to be found for us?
I don’t know that there’s a definitive answer to those questions, but three things have been coming to my prayer. First, God can and often does choose very broken and sinful people to do extraordinary things — and not just in the world we often mistakenly call “secular,” but in the world we often mistakenly call “religious” (there is only one world, after all, and God holds it all in His hands).
Second, and related, we have to be careful that we don’t wrongly consider what God does through someone as some sort of sign of the holiness of the one who does such things. In fact, they say more about God than they do about the person. Fulton Sheen once told the story of a woman coming to him and more or less fawning all over him, saying over and over again that he was a saint. “Good Heavens! What in the world would make you think that?” he retorted. “Because of the way you preach. You must be holy.” “Not at all, my dear,” said the man who just this week was declared blessed by the Vatican. “That simply tells you God gave me the gift of preaching. You’ll find out if I’m holy by what I do and say when I’m not preaching.”
Third and finally, I have been struck anew by the famous like from Alexandr Solzhenitsyn: “The dividing line between good and evil runs through the human heart.” Every. Human. Heart. Like Solomon, we are all capable of both great good and great evil. To not know this is to be, well, foolish. Since this is true, there is a constant need to stay vigilant in our life as disciples.
A mentor of mine used to compare the Christian life to walking up a down escalator. What happens if you stop walking? You go down. As we prepare for the great season of Lent, now just a week away, let’s ask the Lord what we should focus on, not only so that we can grow in wisdom, but so as to better remain vigilant and keep walking.
ACTS XXIX Prayer Intentions
February 2026
For the Church:
That in a world longing for healing and hope, she may be a radiant sign of charity, peace, and unity, drawing all people into the love of God.For Fr. John and the Good News Cruise:
That the Holy Spirit would be poured out abundantly upon Fr. John as he proclaims the gospel, and that the hearts of all who gather may be stirred, renewed, and transformed—so that, through their lives, God’s family may be restored.For those participating in our Leadership Immersive:
That all who gather may be reconfigured to Jesus Christ for mission, open to the work of the Holy Spirit, and willing to surrender the initiative to God in their lives and ministries.In thanksgiving for the Mandarin translation of The Rescue Project:
That our Chinese brothers and sisters may encounter a compelling and beautiful proclamation of the gospel, and be awakened and mobilized for mission in the power of the Holy Spirit.For The Jesus Conference:
That the Holy Spirit would lead, inspire, and guide our gathering in October, so that we may clearly hear God’s vision for His family and respond with faith, courage, and obedience.For our Episcopal Advisory Council, Board of Directors, and faithful partners in mission:
That the Lord would bless them with a renewed outpouring of His love, reminding them of their essential role in helping to restore God’s world and reclaim His family.