Your Price Tag!

Fr. Francis Scaria

When you visit a mall, you inevitably come across price tags. They speak to us about how much we need to pay to acquire the concerned objects. Some of them have discounts while some others involve higher taxes. It may be good to become aware that all of us have our price tags. Some people are purchased for flattery; some for money and some others for pleasure. Esau sold his rights of the first-born for a cup of soup. Some are purchased for a meal or a drink. When we are hungry, we are ready to pay a higher price to procure a meal. In some emergency situations, people pay hundreds of Rupees to get a bottle of mineral water. It is only those who are extremely thirsty who will do that. It is no secret that people sometimes buy tickets in the black paying lakhs of rupees to watch cricket matches. It is cricket fans who will do this. Herod was sold for a dance. His promise to give even half of his kingdom does not reveal his power or strength; on the contrary it reveals his powerlessness and weakness.

It is sad that votes are sold. Horse-trading that is prevalent in politics is a scar on our democracy. It is good for me to reflect as to what my price tag is. What am I sold for? For money, pleasure, posts, flattery, recognition, place of honour or a meal?

When we are sold to someone or when we are purchased by someone, we are in fact sold into slavery. We lose our freedom to discern and decide. The Letter to the Hebrews warns: “See to it that no one becomes like Esau, an immoral and godless person, who sold his birthright for a single meal. You know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, even though he sought the blessing with tears.” (Heb 12:16-17).

The most pathetic situation in marketing is present when the seller has to pay to get rid of a product that has become a liability. A human soul has the highest price tag and the sale has already been effected. The precious ‘blood of the lamb’ has been paid as the price (cf. Mt 26:28; Heb 9:12-14).