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Reader: | Luke 15.1-20a. |
| JOCHABER: | It's been a while since young Simeon left home, Nathan. |
| NATHAN: | Yes, Jochaber, and the master still grieves over him. |
| JOCHABER: | A bit of a bad egg, if you ask me. |
| NATHAN: | His elder brother, Jonathan, is certainly a good worker. |
| JOCHABER: | While Simeon loafed around! Tried every trick in the book to get out of doing work! Knew how to fake a sprained ankle when it was harvest time. Could act pretty well as if he was coming down with the 'flu when it took his fancy! |
| NATHAN: | Jonathan has been the faithful one, hasn't he? When his father gave him a job to do, he knew it would be done. |
| JOCHABER: | Relations were always a bit strained between the two boys, so I'm told! |
| NATHAN: | Just as you would expect. Jonathan had put up with Simeon's laziness for a long time. Resented him a lot. Was glad, in a way, to see him go! Good riddance! I think I even heard him say that one day! |
| JOCHABER: | Yet as you were saying, Nathan, the master still grieves over him. Almost as if he wishes him to come back. |
| NATHAN: | Simeon come back? You don't think it likely, do you? I mean, this place owes him nothing! He said, "Dad, I want my share of the property now!" |
| JOCHABER: | We were all a bit surprised that his father gave it to him and let him go. |
| NATHAN: | So why would he come back? |
| JOCHABER: | I'm not disagreeing with you, Nathan! He's always wanted freedom, independence! And now he's got it. I was really thinking about his father, the master — he's been restless ever since the boy's gone! |
| NATHAN: | But he needn't be. Since Simeon has gone, Jonathan has got the farm hands working as a real team. The whole place has gone well without him! |
| JOCHABER: | But the master — he goes out to the road every day, straining his eyes for some glimpse of the lad..... |
| Reader: | Luke 15.20b-24. |
| NATHAN: | What a feast, Jochaber! Fatted calf, singing, dancing, the works! |
| JOCHABER: | All because Simeon has come home again! |
| NATHAN: | I'm afraid I don't quite know what to make of it! I still think he got all he deserved before — maybe more than he deserved! |
| JOCHABER: | Ah, but he's home! As the master said before, it's as if he had died and has come alive again! |
| NATHAN: | All very nice sentiments, I'm sure, Jochaber! But I doubt it will make the farm a happier place! |
| JOCHABER: | The master has accepted him back. It may seem a little odd, but we're all happy enough about it! |
| NATHAN: | All? |
| JOCHABER: | What do you mean? |
| NATHAN: | Jonathan isn't back yet. He stayed back late because one of the cows was calving. |
| JOCHABER: | He'll be happy along with the rest of us. |
| NATHAN: | We'll see..... |
| Reader: | Luke 15.25-32. |