THE GREAT TRADE-OFF

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 31^st Tuesday in Ordinary Time is, “The Great Trade-Off.”

TODAY’S READINGS

I read today’s two readings - First reading from Romans  and today’s gospel from Luke - and I wondered just where to go with this material.

Then I noticed that both readings had folks with negative qualities and Christ was always hoping for people to improve - so let me pick on God and 3 persons to think about.

God the Father got frustrated with us - he was sick and tired of the evening news.

There was too much yellow tape - too many crime scenes - too many people hurting too many people.

God saw too many kids unable to sleep because their parents were doing too much fighting.

But what to do?

So God said, “ I already sent the prophets. That didn’t work.  I already sent my son. That worked for some - but not enough. What to do?”

So God looked around and tried to find something that worked. And he was intrigued by gun returns.  People - in various places of our world - brought guns into police stations and they got paid for the turn in - the trade off. It cost a lot of money, but shootings and murders went down.

And the trade-off wasn’t perfect, but a lot of folks went for it.

So God began whispering in people’s ears.  “If you turn in something negative, I’ll give you a pay-off - a trade-off - that is positive.

FIRST  PERSON: THE ANGRY MANAGER

So this manager who always flew into a rage when things didn’t go his way - turned in his rage and God gave him instead the ability to laugh when he didn’t get his way. It worked.  In fact, he’s the one who came up with the saying, “Want to make God laugh, tell God your plans.

SECOND GUY - THE PROCRASTINATOR.

This guy who made excuses, excuses, excuses, for not doing the necessaries of life - like showing up for banquets, especially ones he didn’t like - like going to family weddings,  turned in his excuses and started doing the things he didn’t like. In fact, his marriage improved because his wife finally had a chance to see him out of his lazy boy chair, he watching 14 hours of football on the weekends, he getting a beer belly, and she losing 14 pounds and bought some nice dresses. And surprise, he was the one who came up with the saying we hear 1 million times, “Happy wife, happy life.” 

THREE - THE WAITRESS WHO CURSED

This person - a waitress - who was always cursing - cursing people who were slobs - people who were poor tippers - people who were on cell phones the whole meal -  turned in her cursing patterns and God gave her the gift of small talk - giving compliments - and  engaging people into talking with each other - instead of to someone else in some other state on their cellphones.   In fact, she started to get better tips and greater smiles.

CONCLUSION

And God celebrated - this new whisper campaign that he noticed people came up with - the ability to trade in their negative quirks for sweeter and happier  life patterns.