THE SON IS ENOUGH FOR ME

ZEPH 3:14-20 LUKE 3:7-18

A wealthy man and his son had a wonderful art collection and they loved to sit before it and enjoy all the masterpieces in their home.

War broke out and the son went to fight for his country. He was courageous and brave but sadly died whilst rescuing another soldier.

The Father was notified and grieved deeply for his son.

A few months later and Christmas was approaching . There was a knock at the door and there stood a young man with a large package in his hands.

“Sir, you don’t know me” he said “but I am the soldier for whom your son gave up his life. He often talked about you and your love for art, and although I’m not much of an artist, I know he’d want you to have this”

He gave the package to the father. It was a portrait of his son painted by the young man.

The Father valued that painting beyond anything else and it took pride of place in the whole collection.

Some months later, the father suddenly died and there was a great auction of the art collection.

Many influential people from the art world gathered for it, excited over seeing all these great paintings and perhaps purchasing one for themselves.

On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel “We shall start with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture”

Three was silence and then a voice from the back of the room shouted out

“We want to see the famous painting, skip this one!

“Who will start the bidding” continued the auctioneer “do I hear £200 or £150 even”

Another voice rose angrily “we didn’t come for this, show us the Van Gogh’s the Rembrandts and the Picasso’s”. Get on with the real bids”.

But the auctioneer carried on “The son! The son! What am I bid for the Son?”

Finally a croaky voice “I’ll give £10 for it”, it was the long time gardener of the man and his son. Being a poor man, it was all he could afford”

“We have £10 , now who’ll give £20” cried the auctioneer

“Give it to him” shouted the crowd “let’s see the masters”

Nobody was interested in the picture of the son – they wanted the more worthy investments for their collection.

The auctioneer pounded the gavel “Going once! Going twice! Sold for £10!”

A man on the second row shouted “Thank good ness for that now let’s get on with the real collection”

The auctioneer laid down his gavel “I’m sorry the auction is over”

“What about the paintings” everyone cried.

“I’m sorry” said the auctioneer “you see there was a secret stipulation in the old man’s will. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned, whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate”

The person who takes the son gets everything.

We have had John the Baptist’s call to repentance ringing in our ears all Advent and in today’s Gospel reading he addresses the question as to what happens next. What happens when, to the best of your ability you have faced up to your wrong doings, admitted your failings and with a sincere heart are determined to do better.

“What shall we do?” cry the multitude and John the Baptist tells them

“Know that if you have the son – that is enough”

You know longer need more of everything.

You do not even have to keep what you have to yourself.

The fashion conscious can give away half of their collection of coats.

The tax collectors will not need to cook the books for that little bit extra.

Soldiers will not exploit their position for their own ends.

Repentance taken seriously leads to new priorities.

This is not because Christians are called to be gloomy people nor that they have been consigned to a future where the good things in life are perpetually denied.

Rather that the continual striving for more becomes a thing of the past.

Later on in the year – there will be some important words of Jesus to listen to

“Peace is my gift, not as the world gives, give I unto you, set your troubled hearts at rest and be unafraid”

You’ve cleared a space in your life for the Son – now let him be enough for you.

Let the gift of himself be that which determines what you should cling to and what you can let go of.

It can seems a frightening prospect but remember whoever takes the Son – gets everything.

R 17.12.06