He was young and felt there was little danger to him.
Jesus said, “A certain man had two sons. The younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of your estate.’ So the father sold off assets and liquidated his estate so that he could divide the estate between his sons. Soon afterward, the younger son gathered everything together and took a trip to a land far away. In that land there was a pandemic. The son was interested only in having a good time and couldn’t be bothered wearing a mask and sheltering in place, so he went out to the bars and hired prostitutes and partied with his friends. He was young and felt there was little danger to him.
“Some time passed, and the son he had used up his resources. The pandemic had caused an economic crisis and he could not find a job. Soon, the son began to be in need. He hired himself out to a meat packing plant, who sent him into the factory to process pork. He longed to eat his fill from the scraps that fell on the assembly line, but no one gave him anything and his wages barely covered rent and a diet of beans and rice. When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s workers and servants have more than enough food, and I’m starving to death! I will get up and go home where there is no pandemic. I will say to my father, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son. Take me on as one of your employees.” ’ So he got up and went to his father.
“While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion. His father ran to him, hugged him, and kissed him. 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 employees, ‘Quickly, clear out the corner office and get him set up in it. Hire some caterers and a DJ, and we will throw a fantastic welcome home party! This son of mine was dead and has come back to life! He was lost and is found!’ And they had a party.
“Now his older son had been away on a business trip and when he returned the party was in progress. He called the head of sales and asked him what was going on. He replied, ‘Your brother has arrived, and your father has given him an executive position and the corner office. He hired caterers and a DJ to throw this party because your brother is safe and sound.’ About a week later, the son became sick and learned he had contracted COVID19 at the meat packing plant. His father and many of the workers at the party became sick as well. The older son was furious and said to his father, ‘Look, I’ve served you all these years, and I never disobeyed your instructions. You never gave me the corner office, or a party. but when this son of yours returned, after gobbling up your estate on prostitutes and you gave him everything. He knew the risks when he returned and took no precautions and now you and half your workforce are sick because of him. Then his father said, ‘Son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But this brother of yours was dead and is alive. He was lost and is found.’”
