Here is a mystery story which carries with it a lesson against greediness. Greediness and covetousness are the same thing. You may remember the name of the gunner of Satan's ship. How many can remember? Gunner Graball. He stands for covetousness. It is one of the seven deadly sins and leads to other sins mostly that of stealing.

A man had just made a journey through a forest. He brought with him a strange story. He said that in a cave in the forest there were three dead men, a bag of gold, some food, and three bottles of wine. He had come into the cave just as the last of the men was dying. The dying man told him what had happened and here is the story:

There were once three robbers who plundered all who passed through the forest. One day they had stolen a bag of gold from a rich merchant and went to their cave to share the spoils. They were hungry. One of them, the youngest was sent to bring food and drink. While he was gone the two others began to plot among themselves. "Why should we share the gold with that young fellow? If he were not in the way that would mean two shares instead of three. As soon as he comes back we will set upon him and kill him. Then our shares will be larger."

The young man bought the food and on the way back, he, too, began to plot. "Why should I share the gold with those two old fellows? If they were not in the way I could have all the gold for myself. I will poison two of these bottles of wine, then all the gold will be mine." He put poison into two of the three bottles he had bought and put a mark on his own bottle so that he would know it. Then he went back to the cave. As soon as he came in the other two set upon him and stabbed him to death. Then they sat down to share the gold and to enjoy the food and wine. First one fell dead. The other lived long enough to tell his story to the man who was passing by.

Covetousness or greed is a dangerous thing. It leads to other sins. In our story it led men to steal and kill. It can lead you to commit sins too if you are not careful. Gunner Graball never knows when to stop. This is how he thinks, "I feel just like having an ice-cream soda. I will say that something which I bought for my mother from the grocers costs ten cents more than it did. Then I'll keep the dime." Greed had led to two sins — a lie and a theft. When asked about the money he will deny that he took it — another lie. How easily greed leads us into sin. Once you begin stealing it is very hard to stop. Beware of the beginnings.

If a person would never steal his first nickle he would never steal his second. See what greed did to the robbers in the story. It made them steal and kill. Here is a very simple rule to conquer greed. If you find that you are greedy; that you want everything you see
even when it belongs to someone else; try this cure. When you covet something very badly, instead of taking it, give something of your own away.

"Be subject to every human creature for God's sake, whether to the king as supreme,        or to governors as sent through Him."

EVERYBODY in town used to look up at the weather vane. They could not help it. It was made in the shape of a fine crowing rooster, and was painted a very handsome red. The church was in the center of the town and the weather vane was on the church steeple. Being so high above everybody else the rooster began to think that he was better than everybody else. He forgot that if somebody put him up there, somebody could take him down again. He crowed to himself, "When I point north the wind blows from the north. When I point south the wind blows from the south. It is the same with east and west. People do not give me enough credit for what I do. I'm overworked. I'm sick of obeying instructions. I'll make them pay attention to me. I'll point south all the time." And he did.

The farmers looked at the weather vane and said, "It is pointing south. That means a south wind and a south wind means rain. We will not be able to gather in our hay tomorrow." When it did not rain they began to wonder. It happened a few more times and then they sent someone up the steeple to take down the disobedient weather cock.
"He's no good if he doesn't point with the wind. If he won't obey we might just as well take him down." Now the fine red rooster lies flat on a junk pile. He is still pointing south, but nobody pays any attention to him.

The lesson, of course, is obedience. Even a weather cock has to obey laws. This morning's Epistle is all about obedience. Everyone has to obey someone. The policeman who enforces the law during the week has to obey red lights and stop signs if he is driving on his day off. Even your parents who make laws for you have to obey laws themselves. Sister who trains you in obedience in the classroom has taken a vow of obedience to her rule and her superiors. Everybody has to obey laws, but most of all, children have to obey.

There are laws which apply to yourself. You have to obey these. Laws about gluttony and laziness. There are laws which apply to God. You must obey these. Laws about saying your prayers and going to Mass. There are laws which apply to your neighbor. You must obey these. Laws against injury, revenge, backbiting, and stealing. To refuse to obey these laws is to make yourselves useless members of society, whether that society be the home, the school, the church, or the town. You make yourself just as useless as the weather vane who refused to point in the right direction. If you don't obey you will end up as he did — on the junk pile, still having your own way but with no one paying any attention to you.