The 17th Sunday of Ordinary Time | Sunday 30 July 2023

Today is Sunday 30 July, the 17th Sunday of Ordinary time.

Steffany Gretzinger sings, ‘There is none like You’.


There is none like You
No one else can touch my heart like You do
I could search for all eternity long
And find there is none like You
There is none like You, Jesus
No one else can touch my heart like You do
I could search for all eternity long
And find there is none like You
Your mercy flows like a river wide
And healing comes from Your hand
Suffering children are safe in Your arms
Oh Lord, there is none like You
There is none like You
No one else can touch my heart like You do
I could search for all eternity long
And find there is none like You
I could search for all eternity long
And find there is none like You

Today’s reading is from the First Book of Kings.

1 Kings 3:5,7-12


At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, ‘Ask what I should give you. And Solomon answered,’ And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?’

It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. God said to him, ‘Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you.

Solomon asks the Lord for the gift of discernment. As you ponder his request, notice the places in your own life where decisions need to be made…

God gives Solomon a 'wise and discerning mind’. How might you grow in your capacity to receive the gifts of wisdom and discernment?

As you listen again, notice how God honours Solomon because he has chosen wisdom over prosperity…

God says: ‘no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you.’ Can you hear those words addressed to you by God? Speak to God about what it is like to be the unique person that you are…

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.