Fourth of Easter C
April 2007
I came upon this story which I will read to you.
Once upon a time there was a fabulously wealthy man, who was a collector of the greatest works of art in the world. He had one son, who fully shared in his father's wealth, and his love for art. The father's most prized possession, among these works, was a portrait of his son, which he had lovingly painted himself.
The son was called off to war. He was extraordinary in battle, courageous beyond all others, and was killed rescuing another soldier. The father grieved deeply for his son -his only child. Eventually the father died.
There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited to see the great paintings -anxious to buy one of the paintings for their own collections. On the platform sat the portrait of the son, long ago painted by the father. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. "We will start the auction with this portrait of the son. Who will make the first bid?" There was silence. Then a voice from the back shouted -"Get on with it -auction the good stuff skip the son. We want the valuable paintings. "
Finally a poor man in the back row offered £10.00 for the portrait of the son. "Good," they all yelled, "give it to him and get going with this. He wants the son -we don't -give it to him." The auctioneer pounded his gavel-"Going once. going twice, going three times .. SOLD! for £10.00. The auctioneer laid down his gavel and said "I'm sorry, the auction is over."
"What about the paintings?”, the crowd bellowed ,”We wanted to bid on the great works of the masters!!!"
“The painting of the son and the entire estate goes to the man who took the son.”
The man gratefully accepted the inheritance and went on his way. To the stunned crowd, the auctioneer explained. "When I was called to do this Auction, I was told of a stipulation in the will. The stipulation was this. Only the portrait of the son was to be auctioned. Whoever took the son would inherit the entire estate of the father. The one who took the son gets everything."
And so it is with God. Whoever accepts Jesus -the Son of God -inherits the Kingdom of God.