If God appeared to you in a dream tonight and said, “Ask for whatever you want, and I will give it to you,” what would you choose?

Be honest. A winning lottery ticket? Unlimited travel? Perfect grades without studying? Instant fame?

When King Solomon was given that exact offer as a young man, he didn’t ask for money, power, or a long life. Instead, he made a surprising choice: he asked for an “understanding heart”—the wisdom to know what truly matters and to choose what is good.

In a world that constantly tells us we need more—more followers, better looks, bigger achievements—these readings invite us to slow down and ask a deeper question: What is the one thing actually worth wishing for?

In the Gospel, Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to a buried treasure and a priceless pearl. When the merchant finds this pearl, he doesn’t grumble about having to sell everything else. He does it with sheer joy because he knows he’s making the ultimate trade.

Carmelite saints—like St. Teresa of Ávila and St. John of the Cross—understood this trade intimately. Teresa famously wrote:

“Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you… God alone suffices.”

When you have God at the center of your life, you aren’t missing out on the world; you’re finally seeing it clearly. Everything else—friendships, talents, goals—takes on its proper beauty because it points back to the One who gave it to you. Without God, even the best things in life leave us feeling hollow after a while. With Him, even simple moments are filled with deep purpose.

If you had just one wish today, don’t waste it on something that fades.

Wish for a heart that seeks God above all else. Ask Him for the courage to put Him first in your daily choices, your relationships, and your quiet moments. When God is your foundation, you don’t just survive the pressures of growing up—you anchor your life on a treasure that no one can ever take away from you.