SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY

1.       When my mother first came to Canada, I reminded her that supermarkets and Stores here were not the same back East. The prices were marked on the articles and you paid for them. Do you think she would listen to me? The next week I took her to Simpson-Sears to get some crockery for the house. She saw a 72 piece dinner set which she wanted, but $150 was too much to pay for it. So she met the floor manager and proceeded to say, “I want that set but I will not pay $150 for it. What is the best deal you can give me for it?” Like Peter I walked away from the two of them. I do not know this woman ! But a minute later, she called, she said, “This kind man has agreed to give me the set for $90. Would you help me to carry it to the counter.” As my mother walked ahead I asked the manager, since when did Sears start the bargaining process? Oh, he replied. There is a sale next week, and these prices are going to be marked down. But that lady is such a smooth talker, I just had to give her the sale prices now.



1b       Bargaining involves two things. One a confidence in yourself and second a certain intimacy with the other. In our first reading today, Abraham has confidence not only in himself but also in God’s mercy. And like Adam and Eve who talked to God in the evening. Abraham also had a certain intimacy with God. He would walk and talk with God as two friends would do over a cup of coffee.

Jesus also wants us to have that same intimacy with our God in Heaven. And so he teaches us the Our Father. Unfortunately we have been saying so often and without paying attention that we hardly realize the potency of the prayer. If we did, the Our Father would probably go like this:

2.       Our Father.
God replies. Well here I am.
Who are you Lord.
God replies: You called on me. You said Our Father. How often my children call on me and I want to talk to you all, but you do not really do not expect me to answer do you? If you did, you would wait for a reply. Most of the time you just rattle off the prayer as if it were a magical formula. I am not a Genie in a lamp you know. If you call on me - wait. And by the way, when you call you do not have to worry that you have to go through the whole tiresome process when you call a Government Office or even the telephone company.

You do not have to press one to get me
You do not have to press two to get the Son etc. You will always get the Trinity on the first try.
May I continue Lord? Our Father.

3.       Wait a minute do you believe that: Our Father. Then I am the Father of you all. The rich and the poor, the young and the old. I am the Father of all.

Do you believe that?
Yes Lord I believe.

Then why do you treat my sons and daughters differently. You treat my sons and daughters who are gay as if they are half formed. You make fun of some of my children of different Ethnic groups. Why do you racially profile my African Children. You treat my Hindu children with suspicion. Do you know their favourite prayer is Shanti, Shanti, shanti which means Peace. It is the gift that my Son Jesus came to give you all.

And if you really love me as Father - why do you talk to me so rarely. You should take a page from my Muslim Children. They pray to me five times a day. Saturday night hockey and Monday night football do not come in the way. They are also not embarrassed to pray to me everywhere, even in the middle of the street or public square. And you are so shy to say the Grace before meals in McDonald’s.

3a       But Lord I cannot like everybody. There are some who rub me the wrong way.

God replies: Did I tell you to like everybody? I have given you  brothers. Do you like everyone of them. Well no ! Brother number 2 - is so clever, he puts me to shame. I am jealous of him. Brother number 3 never looses his cool. He has such a balanced temperament, he drives me nuts.

But do you love them says the Lord.
Yes Lord, You know I love them and I would give my life for them.
Then says the Lord why don’t you do the same for the members of this community here. They are not flesh and blood. But you are all one in the Body of my Son Jesus. Furthermore, you are one because you are all going to receive the same Jesus in Communion. How can you hold anything against anyone.
May I continue Lord?

3b      Our Father.
You were one of the lucky ones. I do not create children like the roll of the dice. I create them and give them the free will to choose. You had a father who chose well. He cared for your mother and all of you. But some of my other “fathers” did not do a good job. Some were alcoholics. Some could not hold on to a job. Some were philanderers. Some were cowards. They just picked up and walked away. And my mothers had to take care of the families.

Give these single mothers my love. They are just like me in a sense. They have to be both father and mother to their children. Your poor English Language forces you to call me Father. But in a spirit there is no male and female. Do not tie me down by your language. Remember I made you in MY image and likeness, not the other way around.
May I continue Lord?

4.       Our Father who art in heaven.
Wait a minute. Do you believe in Heaven? Of course Lord, I do. Why do you think I say all these prayers, why do you think I try to avoid sin. Why do you think I try to do all these sacrifices and walk the straight and narrow.

Are you trying to be cheeky?
No Lord, forgive me.
That may be true, but look at your room. You do not seem to be on the road to heaven. You have accumulated things that will keep you going for the next 200 years. Do you really need all those pairs of shoes, and those pants and those shirts? You know there are some that are still in their plastic wrappers. You have accumulated CDS, your computer upgrades will be quite sufficient for the next ten years - and you are still want to get a new computer every six months. You really are buying the malarky that the computer firms are selling you.

5.       My dear friends, if you and I had the confidence like Abraham and the intimacy of Jesus with the Father... we would pray in this way. The point is that we might take years to finish even the first part of the Lord’s prayer. And believe me it would be a profitable way of spending years ! And the Lord would never mind that you never got to the “for the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours forever and ever. Amen.