29th Sunday in Ordinary Time A.   October 16, 2011.  Our Lady of Grace, all Masses.  Isaiah 45:1, 4-6.  I Thessalonians 1:1-5b.Matthew 22:15-21.

 

There was a little boy who helped around the house without being asked.  He was a very good young man.  He did many things for his family and his parents were very proud of him.  One day his parents got an envelope from their son. When they opened the envelope they were surprised that it contained a bill.  The bill said, “Mom and Dad, this is what you owe me:

 

For mowing the lawn $5.00

 

For sitting with my little brother $2.00

 

For going to the store $1.00

 

For cleaning the attic $2.00

 

For weeding the garden $3.00

 

For taking out the trash$ 1.00

 

Total:  You owe me   $14.00

 

Please pay me as soon as you can.  Your son, Todd.”

 

The young man's mother was a very surprised at the bill. Even though her son was giving her bargain rates, she was sure that he had missed something very important.  She sat down and wrote him a very frank and honest note.  She said,

 

“My Dear son Todd, I think that it is very important that I remind you of some very important facts:

 

I carried you in my womb for 9 months- I charged you nothing.

 

I gave you the gift of life – and I charged you nothing.

 

I nursed you when you were hungry, even in the middle of the night. I charged you nothing.

 

I took care of you when you were sick – and I charged you nothing.

 

I have sacrificed much of what I have, so that you can have what I didn't have as a child – and I charged you nothing.

 

And no matter how you treat me or what you will do with your life, I would do it all over again for you - at no charge. My love for you will never change, and you don’t have to pay anything to insure that I will always love you – there is no charge for insurance either.”

 

When the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus into dividing the world between God’s side and the Emperor’s side, Jesus asked a tricky question that invites a profound answer.  Jesus said, “Give to the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor and to God what belongs to God.”

 

What do we have that doesn’t belong to God?  If it is impossible to pay our parents back for the gift of life, how much more impossible is it to repay God for everything that God has given us?  Our immense universe is God’s gift.  This great country is God’s gift.  Our parents and our lives are God’s gift.  Our talents and our children are God’s gift. 

 

Today is our annual stewardship Sunday.  I invite you to think about gratitude to God, not about money. I would like to suggest a comparison from everyday life that may be helpful in thinking about gratitude to God.  The expected tip for a good meal in a restaurant is 10-15%.  To be honest I am not at the 20% level. On the other hand, I would probably sneak out the back door of the restaurant hoping that the waiter or waitress wasn’t looking if I gave a 5% tip.  If we look honestly at the banquet of life that God has given us, how big should the tip be?   What would our Sunday giving look like if we saw it as a tip offered in gratitude to God? 

 

I am certain of three things.  First, these are very difficult financial times for many people. Some of us can’t afford to go to a restaurant.   Second, you are always very good and generous to Our Lady of Grace. Third, God has been very good to us – God deserves a round of applause and a tip.  All I ask is that we remember this in making a pledge to God’s parish which is our spiritual home.   Thank you and God bless you always.