Be careful what you ask for

Homily for the 17th Sunday throughout the Year
Given at St. Patrick's Church
By Rev. Fr. Ronnie P. Floyd

Be careful what you ask for,
I once heard a true story of a lawyer who didn’t believe in God,
(It’s amazing how often those who do not believe in God
Talk about him, isn’t it?)

Anyway the lawyer and two buddies were fishing
on Caddo Lake in Texas when a lightning storm hit.

Most of the other boats immediately headed for the shore,
but not our friend the lawyer.

Alone on the rear of his aluminum bass boat with his buddies, he stood up and mocked God.

Spreading his arms wide, he shouted:
"HERE I AM LORD, LET ME HAVE IT!"

Needless to say, God delivered.

Striking the man dead while leaving the other two passengers on the boat with only minor burns.

In today’s first reading from the book of Kings,
God offers Solomon a wish.
Saying, “ask for anything and I will give it to you.”

What an offer! I mean Solomon has hit the Jackpot
Who here wouldn’t want God to offer us anything we want?

And yet Solomon’s answer however should give us pause,
And should cause us to consider
what exactly it is that we ask God for on a daily basis.

we all know the Greek myth of King Midas,
Who loved gold so much that he was afflicted with
The ability to turn everything he touched into Gold,
Even and most tragically those he loved.

Each of us, at some point in our life
have asked God for something:

[Some of you may know that in a former life
I worked for the US Government
What wou may not know is that
I worked for the Senate Committee on the Budget

I knew it was time for me to leave that job, and that career,
When our economist told me with a straight face
We can never have too much debt.

A lot of people treat the government like God, or Santa Clause,
Expecting that the government will provide for them
everything they need and want—
but the fact of the matter is
as our government is finding out today,
its not necessarily a good idea
to give everyone everything they want

I remember the comedy movie Mr. Deeds
where the main character inherit a whole bunch of money
and bought everyone in his small town a red sports car
at first thought you might think that sounds great,
on second thought however the results were traffic
and a really strange looking town.
today the wisdom of Solomon challenges us to
Think about what we ask for from God’s perspective.

How many of us, offered Solomon’s wish
would ask God to prove Himself?
How many would ask for something petty? Money, a Car, toys?
How many would ask for something that God is not willing
to do because he is not willing to take away human freedom?

God always answers our prayers,
but sometimes his answer is no
because God knows what we need to become the persons
He made us to be.

The question is will we ask God, like Solomon
For nothing more than the Grace, wisdom, and courage
To fulfill our life’s vocation or will we

Or will we seek things that will never give us
true happiness, joy, and peace?

Remember at the end of our life
God will ask us a few things too.

On that judgment day...

1. God won't ask what kind of car you drove;
He'll ask how many people you helped and loved
by driving those who didn't have transportation.

2. God won't ask the square footage of your house,
He'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home.

3. God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet,
He'll ask how many you helped to clothe.

4. God won't ask what your highest salary was;
He'll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it, and performed your job to the best of your ability.

5. God won't ask how many friends you had;
He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend.

6. God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived,
He'll ask how you treated your neighbors.

7. AND He won't ask why it took you so long to seek Salvation;
He'll just ask you how you loved Him after receiving it.


In the Bible it says ask and you shall receive seek and you shall find

The Lord wants to give us all that is good
and lead us into the fullness of happiness, but
we must seek to know His plan and understand
that so often He has much greater things planned for us
than we have for ourselves

Ask the Lord today for the Courage to improve the things
you can improve in this world,
the serentity to accept the things you can’t,
and the wisdom to know the difference.