People never agree with each other on everything, and you can’t please everyone at once. There lived in one village a curate who was so cunning and resourceful that no one managed to catch him at his word or convict him of anything. One Sunday morning the churchwardens of his parish came to see him in the sacristy.
- Hello, Mister curé!
-Hello, friends! What do you say?
Mister curé, drought is ruining our harvest. We came to ask you to try to make it rain.
Nothing is easier, my children! I know such a prayer - if you read it, it will rain on the same day. But it is only necessary that everyone agrees to this and asks me. Today at the end of the sermon I will talk to the people.
-Thank you, Mister curé!
-I'm always happy to help you, friends!
The elders returned to the church, and the priest began to celebrate mass. When it was time to preach, he ascended the pulpit and said:
My children, the elders of our parish just came to my sacristy and complained that the drought was ruining the harvest. They asked me to beg God for rain. I know one prayer that causes rain on the same day, if only everyone wants it. Do you want it to rain today?
“No, Monsieur curé,” the boys shouted. “Today after Vespers we want to take a walk.”
- So ask for rain for tomorrow?
“No, Monsieur curé,” responded three or four women. — Our linen is washed and hung. We don't want any rain until it dries out.
— Do you want rain on Tuesday?
“No, Monsieur curé,” said the girls. “We are going to the fair on Tuesday.”
Then let's go on Wednesday?
No, Mister Curé,” the crowd of mowers made a noise. — We have to mow the clover on Wednesday.
Do you want it on Thursday?
“No, Monsieur Curé,” the boys shouted. — We won’t have classes at school on Thursday, and we want to run around in the wild.
Maybe pray for rain on Friday?
“No, Monsieur Curé,” said the man who made the tiles. — My tiles are still drying in the sun, I can’t put them in the oven before Saturday.
Then you want it on Saturday?
No, Monsieur curé,” objected the mayor. — On Saturday I need to go around the villages.
My brothers, I told you that my prayer for rain only helps if everyone wants it as one. And until you come to an agreement among yourself, we will leave everything to the Lord God.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru