Haggling with God – Fr Brendan Gatt

Seventeenth Sunday in ordinary time, Cycle C. Today’s readings: Genesis 18:20-32; Colossians 2:12-14; Luke 11:1-13

I detest haggling; when in countries where it is practised, I always feel very awkward during the bargaining that invariably accompanies any trip to the local market. Friends of mine engage in this process with gusto, countering the shopkeeper’s requested price by offering an alternative sum I consider frankly ridiculous, possibly insulting.

Thus it proceeds: the trader lowers the asking price slightly, and the shopper retorts with a marginally higher offer, back and forth. Occasionally it reaches an apparent impasse: the shopkeeper will raise his arms in mock frustration: “That is impossible; you want to ruin me!” The shoppers then go through the rigmarole of pretending to walk away from the shop or stall until the trader finally calls them back and agrees to a sum acceptable for all.

This same feeling of awkwardness is inevitably aroused within me whenever I ponder today’s first reading. In an effort to thwart God’s impending judgment upon Sodom, Abraham uses his best haggling techniques. He starts off by asking if God will still destroy the corrupt city if he...