.                                              

Jesus said, ‘A man had two sons. The younger said to his father, “Father, let me have the share of the estate that would come to me.” So the father divided the property between them. A few days later, the younger son got together everything he had and left for a distant country where he squandered his money on a life of debauchery.    ‘When he had spent it all, that country experienced a severe famine, and now he began to feel the pinch, so he hired himself out to one of the local inhabitants who put him on his farm to feed the pigs. And he would willingly have filled his belly with the husks the pigs were eating but no one offered him anything. Then he came to his senses and said, “How many of my father’s paid servants have more food than they want, and here am I dying of hunger! I will leave this place and go to my father and say: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as one of your paid servants.” So he left the place and went back to his father.    ‘While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran to the boy, clasped him in his arms and kissed him tenderly. Then his son said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son.” But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the calf we have been fattening, and kill it; we are going to have a feast, a celebration, because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found.” And they began to celebrate.    ‘Now the elder son was out in the fields, and on his way back, as he drew near the house, he could hear music and dancing. Calling one of the servants he asked what it was all about. “Your brother has come” replied the servant “and your father has killed the calf we had fattened because he has got him back safe and sound.” He was angry then and refused to go in, and his father came out to plead with him; but he answered his father, “Look, all these years I have slaved for you and never once disobeyed your orders, yet you never offered me so much as a kid for me to celebrate with my friends. But, for this son of yours, when he comes back after swallowing up your property – he and his women – you kill the calf we had been fattening.”    ‘The father said, “My son, you are with me always and all I have is yours. But it was only right we should celebrate and rejoice, because your brother here was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found.”’

_______________________________________________

 This is a parable that Jesus told to his followers. When you think that this story was told only once by Jesus, but two thousand years later we are still telling the story, you can understand that many people find many aspects of the story interesting.

Some people will focus on the son learning the easy life is not a life that helps to feed and clothe you. In the same way, if you take the easy life in your studies, you won’t get the grades you want, you won’t get the job you want and you won’t earn the money you hope to.

We’ve just had the Olympics, none of the athletes who went to Brazil had taken life easy, they had to work hard to get there.

Other people might see the father’s point of view, he loved his son very much, and was delighted to welcome him back, and forgive him for wasting half the family’s money.

Others might think about how the son had to learn to fend for himself and cannot. Is it not better to make ourselves as independent as possible? What about tidying up after ourselves (think of the shock your parents would get) Your teachers speak of independent learning, and when we learn independently you can help others to do the same, and share with them what you have learned.

But other people will look at this story from the older brother’s aspect. The older brother is a diligent young man who has been working hard for the family business. He has seen his younger brother go off into what the scripture writers called the ‘cora magna’ in Greek or the ‘big empty’ as it translates into English. He’s had a fine old time living in the equivalent of Aya Napa or Ibiza, getting drunk, having lots of girlfriends, sleeping late, he was probably very popular with all the people he met on account of the fact he had lots of money.

But then, the younger son sees this has not sustained him, he’s made no real friends, he has had to come home again.

The hard working older brother must have been furious, and is clearly very upset with the father. The father has recognised the younger son made a mistake, and he shows he is willing to help him correct that mistake. But the older brother is very judgemental of both his father and his brother.

Any of you could be in a lesson you are really learning from when someone else disrupts your learning, your work, and your chance to get on in that subject. You would most likely be upset with the student who causes the disruption.

You might be the student that thinks, and that is only thinks, he is entitled to cause disruption. In order to correct your behaviour the teacher may do something you see as a punishment. But all our actions carry consequences. All our decisions to act, carry consequences.

Let’s take a moment to pray for good consequences from good actions and unlike the younger son, good judgements.

______________________________________________

Lord, let me know what I should know, love what I should love, praise that which pleases you most, value what is most precious to you, and despise whatever is despicable in your eyes.

Teach me in right judgement to distinguish between the secular and the sacred,

to seek your will and pleasure above all things, and to see this as the supreme good of my life on earth.

Enable me to listen with reverence to your holy will, to accept it with a ready heart, to follow it in humble service, and to answer it with love, for your honour and glory.

Amen.