Living The Life God Gives Us
Sermon
Sermons On The First Readings
Series I, Cycle C
There once was a businessman who, after a long hard day at the office, cried out loudly to God with his complaint, "O Lord," he began, "I am so tired and want something new in my life. Each day I get up at the crack of dawn and go to the gym to get in some exercise. Then I come home and get a quick breakfast, throw down a final cup of coffee, and then I am off to fight the traffic on the expressway to work. I work like a slave for eight, ten, sometimes even twelve hours, associating with people who are often exasperating, uncooperative, or short-sighted in their outlook. Then after all this I get in the car again, fight the traffic on the way home, and arrive exhausted. After a quick dinner, the kids want to play and so I make time for them. Finally, it is off to bed after an hour of television, and the whole process begins again. O Lord, is it possible for my wife and I to change places so she knows how hard I work and my daily frustrations?"
God listened to the man's plea and told him, "No problem." Thus, the next day when the man arose he was his wife and she was her husband. The man, who was now the mother and wife, arose at the same time as before, only now (s)he was preparing breakfast and making lunches for the children and her husband. Then she had to get the children up and ready for school. After everyone was off to their places, it was now time to wash the dishes, clean the kitchen, make the beds and straighten up the house. After this there was wash to do, groceries to be purchased, and several errands to be run. Then she took in the mail and paid all the bills. By this time it was 3 p.m. and the children were returning from school. She prepared a snack for each, plus their classmates, and helped each with their homework. By this time it was time to begin dinner which was ready just when her husband arrived home. They ate together and then it was necessary to wash the dishes again, and then attend the local PTA meeting. She returned home for a half hour of relaxation before going to bed. In order to satisfy her husband, she managed to mount sufficient energy to make love. After all this the man, who was a woman for the day, said to God: "O Lord, I learned my lesson well. I now know how hard my wife works and I will be content with the role I have. Can I return to my real state in life?"
God replied, "There is no problem, but you will have to wait nine months. You just got pregnant!" This humorous story presents many important ideas that we see in today's powerful reading from First Kings. Things might seem to be difficult or incomplete, but we must learn to be satisfied with who we are and what we have, including the life God has given us.
Ahab had everything a person could possibly need, at least it appears this way from what we are told about him. He had all the power, wealth, and prestige to satisfy anyone, save himself. He wasn't content with what he had, nor it seems with who he was; he wanted more. He, like the businessman, figured that things would be better it he had something that he did not need. Thus, he went and asked Naboth for his vineyard. He must have figured that this would be a simple deal, that Naboth would certainly not challenge his request, especially since Ahab was the king and he was willing to give Naboth a better vineyard or its value in money. But Naboth would not agree to the king's offer. He could not give up his ancestral inheritance which for the Hebrews was almost sacred. To sell or trade one's ancestral inheritance was a sign of disowning the past and one's forebears.
Thus, Ahab returned home disappointed and, again like the businessman, complained that he could not have things his way. He voiced his discontent to his wife Jezebel who was cunning and deceitful. She had no concern for God nor the people of the land and, thus, she concocted a plan to get her husband what he wanted. Jezebel and Ahab were both greedy; they were not satisfied with what God had given them. She also seemed totally unconcerned with the possible consequences of her actions. Jezebel believed she was without peer and needed to answer to no one, not even God. Ahab was a coward, but Jezebel was forceful and placed her plan into action with great delight.
Once Naboth had been killed and the vineyard taken by Ahab, the time of reckoning came. Elijah, the great prophet who speaks God's message fearlessly, told Ahab that his actions would lead to disaster for him. Like the businessman who wanted things his way, got what he wished for, but then discovered the consequences of his request, so too did Ahab learn of his impending doom at the hand of God. Ahab's inability to find ways to accept his life, in this case, his failure to understand Naboth, cost him his position and eventually his life.
In varied ways, sometimes small and other times rather grand, we at times act like the businessman and Ahab. We are not content with who we are, what we have, or the situation in which we find ourselves. We always believe that, as the saying goes, the grass will be greener on the other side, but this is not always the case. Our perceptions are limited; we see only one side of the story, one face of the multi-faceted lives of others and conclude that what they have or do must be best. Thus, envy and greed enter our hearts and we seek to satisfy our need. Often we are impatient with our current status and want something different, simply because it is different. We make conclusions, often based on very sketchy evidence, that what others have is better. The need to "keep up with the Joneses" captures our attention and we seek fulfilment in the things of the material world.
Our inability to appreciate who we are, what we have, and the life we lead is manifest in many ways. Our daily relationships are, unfortunately, often tainted with this lack of appreciation for what we presently have. There are times when we will only associate with those who will advance our cause, our ability to move forward in society. We migrate toward those who are bright and intelligent, attractive and athletic, powerful and influential, wealthy and talented. At the same time, possibly without realizing it, we push to the side those who are not what we "need" so as to "know" those who will make a difference. Sometimes we are highly impatient in our relationships. We want people to act in a certain fashion and in accordance with the timetable we have generated. Giving people space and allowing them to operate in a manner and time they believe to be correct is unacceptable; we will not give people the benefit of the doubt. In these cases we often toss our relationships aside without giving these people our best and complete effort.
Often our lack of appreciation applies to ourselves. Many people do not love nor appreciate themselves; their self-esteem is very low. Some of us consider ourselves inadequate in many ways. We want to be the "other person," the one who is all that society says is important, the one who possesses the things that the world now worships as false gods. Certainly any of us would be foolish not to make the most of who we are and what we have by improving our native skills, appearance, and potential. There are many positive aspects to self-improvement, but sometimes we become fanatical about change because we dislike ourselves so much. We must learn to appreciate the person God created in us. As the little bumper sticker says, "God didn't make any junk." What God has created in us is unique, special, and wonderful for as the book of Genesis says, we are made in the image and likeness of God.
Problematic family situations today create an environment that leads people to escape reality. It is a rare family today which does not experience several trials along the way. Rather than finding ways to negotiate these crises, some people choose another way. Some lose themselves in alcohol, drugs, or abberant behavior. We are often not up to the challenge of a problem child, a family member in failing health, or an economic crisis that threatens our family's livelihood. When we are not willing to meet these challenges, we abdicate our responsibilities. Parents give up on their children, and children, in turn, give up on their parents. Couples give up on each other. We throw up our hands in frustration and "throw in the towel" on life.
For many people today, especially in the first world environment of the United States, our lack of appreciation is centered on the material world. We are not satisfied with what we have; we always want more and better in everything. We want the designer dress, suit, or pair of shoes when an equally good quality brand, but without the special name, is more than adequate. We become dissatisfied with the ordinary and believe that only the extraordinary will satisfy us. We have become greedy, like Ahab and Jezebel, with our time, talent, and most especially our treasure. This problem exists in individuals and our society. We want more and will not be satisfied until we obtain what we "need."
A story about those who are greedy and not satisfied with what they have demonstrates the dangers and consequences of such an attitude. Three sisters, who were kind and generous and possessed great faith, lived in a cabin in the hills. One day when working in the backyard garden, the sisters unearthed a large box. When they removed the top they saw it was filled with gold coins. They all shrieked loudly, "Beware of the soul-taker!" They were uncertain what to do -- should they cover the box up and pretend like nothing had happened or should they flee from the house?
It so happened that four men had recently moved into the cabin next door. They heard the commotion at the sisters' home and went to investigate. The sisters informed their neighbors, "We are trying to flee from the soul-taker." "What is a soul-taker?" one of the men responded. "Please show us." The sisters took the men into the backyard and then, pointing at the box of gold coins, said, "That is the soul-taker!" The men laughed under their breath and said to one another, "They think the money is a soul-taker." One of the men said to the women, "If you sisters are so frightened, please go to town for a few hours and we will take care of the problem for you." The women agreed and left immediately.
The men made their plans. First, they decided to split the money four ways. Then they determined that two men would stay and completely unearth the box of gold while the other two went to town, bought some food, and made plans for a quick get-away. The two who stayed began to think, "It would be better to split the money two ways; we will receive more." Thus, they decided to ambush their friends when they returned and kill them. The two who went to town had similar thoughts. They decided to poison the food and feed it to their compatriots. Then they would bury their bodies in the hole where the box had been and split the money between them.
When the two men from town returned, they were abused and killed by their friends. But before the bodies were buried, the two murderers decided to eat the food provided since it was fresh. They soon became sick and died. When the sisters returned they found the four men dead and the box of gold still there. "We told them it was a soul-taker, but they refused to believe." The women immediately made plans to leave their home.
Let us, my friends, learn a lesson from the businessman, the story of Naboth's vineyard, and the "soul-taker." Let us be satisfied with who we are, what we have, and the life God has given us. Let us not run away from, but rather, engage our lives and in the end discover our true purpose and home in God, the source of all we need, the source of all that is good.
God listened to the man's plea and told him, "No problem." Thus, the next day when the man arose he was his wife and she was her husband. The man, who was now the mother and wife, arose at the same time as before, only now (s)he was preparing breakfast and making lunches for the children and her husband. Then she had to get the children up and ready for school. After everyone was off to their places, it was now time to wash the dishes, clean the kitchen, make the beds and straighten up the house. After this there was wash to do, groceries to be purchased, and several errands to be run. Then she took in the mail and paid all the bills. By this time it was 3 p.m. and the children were returning from school. She prepared a snack for each, plus their classmates, and helped each with their homework. By this time it was time to begin dinner which was ready just when her husband arrived home. They ate together and then it was necessary to wash the dishes again, and then attend the local PTA meeting. She returned home for a half hour of relaxation before going to bed. In order to satisfy her husband, she managed to mount sufficient energy to make love. After all this the man, who was a woman for the day, said to God: "O Lord, I learned my lesson well. I now know how hard my wife works and I will be content with the role I have. Can I return to my real state in life?"
God replied, "There is no problem, but you will have to wait nine months. You just got pregnant!" This humorous story presents many important ideas that we see in today's powerful reading from First Kings. Things might seem to be difficult or incomplete, but we must learn to be satisfied with who we are and what we have, including the life God has given us.
Ahab had everything a person could possibly need, at least it appears this way from what we are told about him. He had all the power, wealth, and prestige to satisfy anyone, save himself. He wasn't content with what he had, nor it seems with who he was; he wanted more. He, like the businessman, figured that things would be better it he had something that he did not need. Thus, he went and asked Naboth for his vineyard. He must have figured that this would be a simple deal, that Naboth would certainly not challenge his request, especially since Ahab was the king and he was willing to give Naboth a better vineyard or its value in money. But Naboth would not agree to the king's offer. He could not give up his ancestral inheritance which for the Hebrews was almost sacred. To sell or trade one's ancestral inheritance was a sign of disowning the past and one's forebears.
Thus, Ahab returned home disappointed and, again like the businessman, complained that he could not have things his way. He voiced his discontent to his wife Jezebel who was cunning and deceitful. She had no concern for God nor the people of the land and, thus, she concocted a plan to get her husband what he wanted. Jezebel and Ahab were both greedy; they were not satisfied with what God had given them. She also seemed totally unconcerned with the possible consequences of her actions. Jezebel believed she was without peer and needed to answer to no one, not even God. Ahab was a coward, but Jezebel was forceful and placed her plan into action with great delight.
Once Naboth had been killed and the vineyard taken by Ahab, the time of reckoning came. Elijah, the great prophet who speaks God's message fearlessly, told Ahab that his actions would lead to disaster for him. Like the businessman who wanted things his way, got what he wished for, but then discovered the consequences of his request, so too did Ahab learn of his impending doom at the hand of God. Ahab's inability to find ways to accept his life, in this case, his failure to understand Naboth, cost him his position and eventually his life.
In varied ways, sometimes small and other times rather grand, we at times act like the businessman and Ahab. We are not content with who we are, what we have, or the situation in which we find ourselves. We always believe that, as the saying goes, the grass will be greener on the other side, but this is not always the case. Our perceptions are limited; we see only one side of the story, one face of the multi-faceted lives of others and conclude that what they have or do must be best. Thus, envy and greed enter our hearts and we seek to satisfy our need. Often we are impatient with our current status and want something different, simply because it is different. We make conclusions, often based on very sketchy evidence, that what others have is better. The need to "keep up with the Joneses" captures our attention and we seek fulfilment in the things of the material world.
Our inability to appreciate who we are, what we have, and the life we lead is manifest in many ways. Our daily relationships are, unfortunately, often tainted with this lack of appreciation for what we presently have. There are times when we will only associate with those who will advance our cause, our ability to move forward in society. We migrate toward those who are bright and intelligent, attractive and athletic, powerful and influential, wealthy and talented. At the same time, possibly without realizing it, we push to the side those who are not what we "need" so as to "know" those who will make a difference. Sometimes we are highly impatient in our relationships. We want people to act in a certain fashion and in accordance with the timetable we have generated. Giving people space and allowing them to operate in a manner and time they believe to be correct is unacceptable; we will not give people the benefit of the doubt. In these cases we often toss our relationships aside without giving these people our best and complete effort.
Often our lack of appreciation applies to ourselves. Many people do not love nor appreciate themselves; their self-esteem is very low. Some of us consider ourselves inadequate in many ways. We want to be the "other person," the one who is all that society says is important, the one who possesses the things that the world now worships as false gods. Certainly any of us would be foolish not to make the most of who we are and what we have by improving our native skills, appearance, and potential. There are many positive aspects to self-improvement, but sometimes we become fanatical about change because we dislike ourselves so much. We must learn to appreciate the person God created in us. As the little bumper sticker says, "God didn't make any junk." What God has created in us is unique, special, and wonderful for as the book of Genesis says, we are made in the image and likeness of God.
Problematic family situations today create an environment that leads people to escape reality. It is a rare family today which does not experience several trials along the way. Rather than finding ways to negotiate these crises, some people choose another way. Some lose themselves in alcohol, drugs, or abberant behavior. We are often not up to the challenge of a problem child, a family member in failing health, or an economic crisis that threatens our family's livelihood. When we are not willing to meet these challenges, we abdicate our responsibilities. Parents give up on their children, and children, in turn, give up on their parents. Couples give up on each other. We throw up our hands in frustration and "throw in the towel" on life.
For many people today, especially in the first world environment of the United States, our lack of appreciation is centered on the material world. We are not satisfied with what we have; we always want more and better in everything. We want the designer dress, suit, or pair of shoes when an equally good quality brand, but without the special name, is more than adequate. We become dissatisfied with the ordinary and believe that only the extraordinary will satisfy us. We have become greedy, like Ahab and Jezebel, with our time, talent, and most especially our treasure. This problem exists in individuals and our society. We want more and will not be satisfied until we obtain what we "need."
A story about those who are greedy and not satisfied with what they have demonstrates the dangers and consequences of such an attitude. Three sisters, who were kind and generous and possessed great faith, lived in a cabin in the hills. One day when working in the backyard garden, the sisters unearthed a large box. When they removed the top they saw it was filled with gold coins. They all shrieked loudly, "Beware of the soul-taker!" They were uncertain what to do -- should they cover the box up and pretend like nothing had happened or should they flee from the house?
It so happened that four men had recently moved into the cabin next door. They heard the commotion at the sisters' home and went to investigate. The sisters informed their neighbors, "We are trying to flee from the soul-taker." "What is a soul-taker?" one of the men responded. "Please show us." The sisters took the men into the backyard and then, pointing at the box of gold coins, said, "That is the soul-taker!" The men laughed under their breath and said to one another, "They think the money is a soul-taker." One of the men said to the women, "If you sisters are so frightened, please go to town for a few hours and we will take care of the problem for you." The women agreed and left immediately.
The men made their plans. First, they decided to split the money four ways. Then they determined that two men would stay and completely unearth the box of gold while the other two went to town, bought some food, and made plans for a quick get-away. The two who stayed began to think, "It would be better to split the money two ways; we will receive more." Thus, they decided to ambush their friends when they returned and kill them. The two who went to town had similar thoughts. They decided to poison the food and feed it to their compatriots. Then they would bury their bodies in the hole where the box had been and split the money between them.
When the two men from town returned, they were abused and killed by their friends. But before the bodies were buried, the two murderers decided to eat the food provided since it was fresh. They soon became sick and died. When the sisters returned they found the four men dead and the box of gold still there. "We told them it was a soul-taker, but they refused to believe." The women immediately made plans to leave their home.
Let us, my friends, learn a lesson from the businessman, the story of Naboth's vineyard, and the "soul-taker." Let us be satisfied with who we are, what we have, and the life God has given us. Let us not run away from, but rather, engage our lives and in the end discover our true purpose and home in God, the source of all we need, the source of all that is good.
