Homily - August 23, 2023

IF YOU WERE A TREE,

WHAT KIND OF TREE

WOULD YOU WANT TO BE?

 

INTRODUCTION

If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you want to be?

The other night at a Major League Baseball game at the Little League Baseball Game in Williamsport, Pennsylvania kids were asked to ask their favorite baseball player a question – or the other way around.

The question chosen a bunch of times for the kids was, “If you were an animal, what animal would you want to be?”

It was an ice breaker question. One kid said he’d like to be a dog. Another kid a fish.

TODAY’S FIRST READING

Well, when I read today’s first reading about The Parable of Four Trees, I thought of a good question: “If you were a tree, what kind of a tree would you want to be?”

In this first reading the people wanted a king – but what kind of a king?

One like an olive tree – oozing rich oil on given situations.

One like a fig tree – giving food to the people.

One like  a vine, giving grapes and wine to the people.

Or to be like the buckthorn – giving a hiding place and safety to folks – but maybe not much more.

LOOK AT OUR OWN LIFE

Each of us could look at our lives. What are my characteristics? What are my gifts? What do I bring to the table?

That could lead to further questions.

Do I do comparisons? Am I envious? Do I blame God for being unfair – like the folks in today’s gospel blaming the vineyard owner for paying the workers unfairly?

 

CONCLUSION

If I were a tree, what kind of tree would I want to be and why?

Maple tree? Sycamore? Redwood? Oak? Weeping Willow? Palm? Bamboo? Magnolia?

Do yourself with this question? Ask others how they see you, if you were a tree? Be ready for interesting insights and learnings – and maybe an “Uh oh!” or two.