The Kinds of Folks that Jesus Liked (for the 4th Sunday in Lent)

The kinds of folks that Jesus liked made holy people sneer.

They said “he welcomes sinners in and eats with them ‘round here.

—–

So, ready with a story, he approached them. “Lend an ear,

“There was a man who had two sons, now listen up and  hear.” 

—–

He split the ranch, then one sold out, departing from the scene

and ran off to the city, wasting all on things obscene.

—–

The party stopped and came undone when famine hit the land.

He went to work to earn his keep, but no one lent a hand.

——

Recalling who had bread to spare he thought of Dad, and home.

He planned out a confession and a vow no more to roam. 

—–

Back at the ranch his Father chanced to spy his errant son

and ran to give a fond embrace to the returning one.

—–

He didn’t listen to speech rehearsed for the return

but ordered up a suit of clothes and partying begun.

—–

The other brother got the news and threw an angry fit.

He didn’t like his father’s reasons, not a little bit.

—–

He’d never acted on his lusts, though they’d consumed his heart.

The man who had two sons loved life, in which all three took part. 

———-

Photo:   The Return of the Prodigal Son, Rembrandt. The Hermitage Museum. Public Domain 

Source: Luke 13:1-3 and 11-32   

Text:  David Alexander, 2022, CC BY-NC SA 4.0

Tune:    Diana, Public Domain

Score:   https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/Score_PDF/JerusalemMyHappy-Diana.pdf 

Audio:   www.smallchurchmusic.com  Used by Permission