33. The Building of the Temple of Jerusalem (1 Kings 6-8)

Solomon carried out the great work that his father David had dreamed of: building a permanent house for the Lord in Jerusalem. The Temple was constructed with the finest materials of the known world: cedar wood from Lebanon, pure gold, and precious stones. For seven years, thousands of workers labored in silence to raise this sacred building, where the Ark of the Covenant would finally find its resting place in the "Holy of Holies."

On the day of dedication, once the Ark was placed in its position, the glory of the Lord in the form of a cloud filled the Temple, demonstrating that the Lord accepted that house as His dwelling place among men. Solomon, before all the people, offered a prayer recognizing that neither heaven nor earth can contain God, yet He, in His goodness, would listen to every prayer made in that holy place.

The Temple of Jerusalem is a figure of the Church and, especially, of every Christian, who is a "temple of the Holy Spirit." Saint Paul reminds us that we are no longer buildings of stone, but "living stones" in a spiritual building. The care and beauty that Solomon put into the Temple invite us to care for our inner life and our heart, because God truly desires to dwell there.