Grab everything!

26 ^th Sunday in Ordinary Time
 
We all have a very strong sense of fairness. We consider that everybody who lives by the rules should be rewarded. Based on my life experience, we all agree with the theory but we don’t practice it very often. We all line up to go to the game. As soon as the gates open people start pushing to get in, fairness or not. People spend days outside the store waiting for the sale to begin at 6.00am. As soon as the door opens they push and shove and trample to get ahead of those in front. Fairness has nothing to do with it. It is greed. Dog eat dog. Grab everything. I guess we learned that instinct in childhood. Children are holy terrors when it comes to making rules. Am I right in saying that children are inherently selfish? They will be generous and loving and kind as long as there is a great reward at the end of it. Ezekiel says today, “You say, the Lord’s ways are not fair.” I guess if you live your life looking over your shoulder watching what everyone has, you might blame God and say He is very unfair. As far as I can see it is I am the one who is very unfair. Every chance I get I will grab the advantage. I will always balance the scales in my favor. I don’t share easily. I resent those who have more than me. In my jealous rage I will belittle them. I will spread my gossip wings and I will destroy them.  That is precisely how my ways are. I don’t delight in the good fortune of other people. Paul is very precise in his words today, “Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory. Rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves.” Well, we all know that ain’t gonna happen. We might praise Paul’s words when Father is listening but we ain’t gonna let that happen ever. Jesus tells the story of the man who had two sons. I don’t really like any of these sons. They could start by learning a bit of manners and a bit of respect for their father. If I every spoke to my Mom and Dad the way these two did I would definitely remember that day for the rest of my life. Jesus tells his listeners that tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of Heaven before them. That is scandalous to our ears. I am the one who is always talking about fairness. I will not admit that I take advantage every chance I get. I am not happy that “those” people get to stand in the line with me. I am First Class. I deserve privilege and I will demand it every chance I get. You are just a shop assistant. You are not any person.  Let “those” people go to the back of the line where they belong. After hearing that, I am going to block you on Facebook. 
With love, Fr. Pat