I want to tell you a story – it’s been in my collection just waiting to be told. I trust, in the end, you will see how it relates to this weekend’s Gospel selection
A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They would often sit together and admire them. When the conflict in the Mideast broke out and Desert Shield and Desert Storm were declared, the son went to war where he died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.
About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands. He said, “Sir, you don’t know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. I recall that he often talked about you, and your love for art. I’m not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this”. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. The father stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son. His eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. “Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It’s a gift.”
The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home, he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected. A few months later the older man died. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection. On the platform sat the painting of the son. “We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?”
There was silence. Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, “We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.” But the auctioneer persisted. “Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?” Another voice shouted angrily: “We didn’t come to see this painting. Get on with the real bids!” But still the auctioneer continued. “The son! The son! Who’ll take the son?”
Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime housekeeper of the man and his son. She bid her last penny. “I’ll give $10 for the painting.” The crowd shouted angrily: “Give it to her for $10. Let us see the works of the masters.” The auctioneer pounded the gavel. “Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!” A man sitting on the second row shouted, “Now, let’s get on with the collection!”
The crowd grew quiet; shocked when the auctioneer responded: “I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. And, whoever bought that painting, would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The person who took the son, gets everything!”
Much like that auctioneer, God’s message today is: “The Son, the Son, who’ll take the Son?” Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything!
In our Gospel today the Son reminds us of his two-pronged commandment: love of God and love of neighbor. When we accept the Son, we accept the responsibility, along with all the blessings, the Son offers us. Part of our acceptance package, like the housekeeper-bidder in our story, is the “whole collection.” It is not an easy choice but one we know is possible because we trust the words of Scripture. In the writings of the Evangelist John we read: “My friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. God is love! We love because God first loved us.”
What is your response when the auctioneer’s voice rings out in our assembly: “The Son – who will take the Son?”
~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB
Pray for a peaceful election season: Bless our nation in this time of great transition.
First Reading: Deuteronomy 6:2-6 Second Reading: Hebrews 7:23-28
Gospel: Mark 12:28b-34
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