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Fourth Sunday of Lent
March 25th 2001

Prodigal Son – in the key of F
by Tom Cox

Francis the Foolish felt little filial fondness for his flawless, fastidious Father, Ferdinand. Feeling footloose and frisky, Francis forced and finagled his fond father to fork over his share, then fled his Father’s fertile fief.

Fleeing to foreign fields, Francis frittered and philandered away his fortune on fancy fashion, fickle fun-loving friends and feasting. Finally fleeced, Francis found himself flinging foul feed to the swine in a filthy farmyard as a forlorn farmhand. Famished, he fain would have filled his flaccid frame with this food. Fortunately the frazzled fugitive finally faced the facts.

Forging forthwith, he fell fatigued as his father’s feet and feebly phrased his feelings: “Father,” he fumbled, “I fruitlessly forfeited family favour….forgive me.”

The far-sighted Father, kissed Francis’ forehead and forestalling future family fissures arranged a four-fold feast with fatlings be arranged.

The first-born (Frederick) frowned upon his father’s forgiveness of Francis’ former foolish folderol. “That fathead free-wheeled away our family finances, flog that fellow;” he fulminated and fumed.

The faithful father felt that Francis’ former foibles should be freely forgiven. “Filial fidelity is what fathers are for, Frederick,” said Ferdinand with feelings flowing. Forsooth the fugitive is found, so what forbids festivity? Fling a feast!

Moral: The Father is forever seeking those who flounder and are forelorn, he freely forgives and gives fixity. The Father is a real friend, taking us at face value as He did our friend, the Prodigal Son.

Finis.

(Comments to Tom at stmarysrcathlone@oceanfree.net )