Belief that beggars bargaining

“Haggling”, ie bantering for a good bargain, is an ancient practice which remains deeply embedded in, and dear to our national psyche.  It has, I suppose, it’s roots in the tradition of bartering where people exchanged one type of goods for another long before money became mainstream.  Indeed the ongoing collapse of financial bulwarks may yet see some system of bartering reinstated.  In any case, haggling is alive and well as witnessed at fairs and markets, and their most recent evolution, the car boot sale.

The past week has seen haggling at another level as the social partners hammered out another pay deal.  Haggling has its place, and many of us find ourselves from time to time haggling or bargaining with the Lord too, especially in trying times, and moments of desperation.  Jesus’ image or dream of the kingdom in today’s gospel is one where even haggling will be outdone by God’s generosity.  No need to beat God down to a bargain.  Only believe and be emboldened to trust.  Go generously into God’s vineyard, work for Him, no bargain struck.  God will not be outdone in generosity!

Fr. Eamon Devlin, C.M.

21st September 2008