Choose Wisely

Once upon a time there was a wealthy king who ruled the hearts of his subjects. Time passed, and the king started to become old and frail.  He worried about who would take care of his kingdom after his death.

The king had three loyal and respectful sons. However, he wanted all three to prove themselves fit to be a king so he called his three sons and gave them 100 gold coins each. He said, “Whoever brings me a golden dog shall be my successor.  You have one year."

The eldest of three brothers went to the city and hired some men at great expense. They were sent in all four directions with the order to find the golden dog. After a few weeks these men returned empty handed.  They spent all his 100 gold coins in their search.  The eldest son lost the fight for the throne then and there.

The second son became a broker and started lending money to people at high interest.  He made large profits through his business and had a local goldsmith make a Golden dog.

The youngest of all three bought a small house for himself in a town of poor and needy people. He invested his money in a business and employed the people.  He built hospitals and schools for the poor.  He helped them grow crops of all sorts, including cotton.  The people treated him with great respect and love.

A year passed by and the three sons stood in front of the king. The eldest gave nothing; the second son gave a golden dog.  The third son said, “Your Highness please accept this dog made out of cotton.  I have crafted it with my own hands.  The hard work, toil under the hot sun to grow this cotton and the labor put in by me and my fellow companions have no value less than gold.”

The king understood.  He chose the youngest son to rule his kingdom.  He recognized that son’s wisdom would enable him to rule the hearts of those in his kingdom.

This story is about making right and wise choices. Consider the first reading from Sirach.  Have we chosen to keep the commandments?  Is the Sermon on the Mount our Constitution?  Are the Beatitudes our manifesto?  Have we decided to trust in God?

When fire (evil) and water (the good) are set before us, into which do we stretch out our hands?   Do we choose evil or good?  Do we burn our hands or use them for good deeds.  We are often faced with life or death decisions – such as to kill someone’s spirit or to lift it up.  Those decisions especially affect our spouses and children.  Which do we choose?

Our Gospel continues this line of questioning about choice.  Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”  Jesus tells us to choose – obey or break the commandments– but goes further by telling us the consequences of placing our hands in the fire, so to speak.

For example, according to Jesus, “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment…”

Let’s focus on the fiery consequences for “whoever is angry with his brother” (or sister for that matter).  We use this story.

One hot day in the middle of summer a lion and a boar went to a spring to drink. “Step aside,” said the boar, “I was here first.”

The lion replied angrily, “I showed you where to find the spring.  I will be the first to drink.”

Quickly the disagreement escalated from a verbal confrontation.  They began to attack each other with great ferocity with claws and fangs exposed.  A few minutes later, stopping to catch their breath, they both saw some vultures seated on a rock above, waiting for one of them to be killed.  The sight so sobered them that they quickly made peace saying, “If we continue to fight the only winner will be the vultures.”

The lion and boar chose wisely.  Will we? Will we stop fighting each other?  Will we be civil towards each other?  Will we agree to disagree without shouting and throwing insults? Or will we to let the vultures – our adversaries watching our families, our Church, and our nation self-destruct – patiently wait to pick our bones.

As Jesus commands we must reconcile with our brothers, and sisters.  We must quickly settle with our opponents all for the good of our families, Church, and nation.

This year of 2020 will test us all in many challenging religious, cultural, and political ways.  Let’s all try to make dogs of cotton – not dogs of war – by reconciling and settling with our brothers and sisters.  Otherwise, our bones will bake in the sun, and those hungry vultures will grow fat and heavy. They will be the winners, and according to Jesus, we will be liable to judgment.

Deacon David Pierce