Many of us might be rather pleased if God were to appear to us, even in a dream, and make such a generous offer to us as he did to Solomon "Ask what you would like me to give you." What would you ask? Long life? Prosperity? Good health? Solomon's request is a wiser one, in that while asking for understanding, he is asking something that will be for the good of other: he asks for the grace to fulfil God's calling as God's servant and king of Israel, leader of God's chosen people, successor of David, his father: "Give your servant a heart to understand how to discern between good and evil." God is pleased with Solomon's request. We may reflect whether our prayers of intercession are pleasing to God.

While Solomon's request derives from God's choice of him as king, we are entitled to ask for what we want, even for ourselves, as Jesus (Jn 16:23-24), St. Paul (Phil 4:6), St Ignatius and spiritual masters in general teach us. We might pray adapting the words of the Psalmist: "Let your love always console me."