You’ve just heard a story about a man who had two sons. But here’s a story you haven’t heard.

There was another man who had two granddaughters. One granddaughter was called Lil Sis. The other was . . . yep, you guessed it: Big Sis. And they had a grandfather they called “GranDaddio.”

GranDaddio was cool, way cooler to them than either their father or mother. He had moved in with Big Sis and Lil Sis and their parents right after their grandmother died. And this story is really a story about him. But first . . .

Lil Sis was really smart. Top of her class. Really popular, too. Geeky AND gorgeous. She was getting ready to go off to the college of her choice. But the night before she left, the night before they packed the family car with all her things, she did something she hadn’t done in a long time. Not since she wanted to go to the prom with a boy GranDaddio didn’t like. Before she packed, she picked…a fight. Not with her folks. With GranDaddio. Here’s how it went:

(GranDaddio and Lil Sis are seated next to each other.)

Well, now, Lil Sis, I’ll bet you’re ready for your big day tomorrow! Do you need any help packing?

Thanks, GranDaddio. I think I’m alright.

I remember when I was your age and going off to college. When I graduated I went right on to seminary. Didn’t wait, you know. I just knew I had a call to serve the Lord.

Yeah, GranDaddio. I know. You’ve told that story a hundred times. (under her breath: “And I’m sick of it.”)

What’s that? (Pause) Well, now, Lil Sis, I really hope you’re going to go to that little Episcopal church down the street from your new school. The priest there is a woman, and I hear she’s really wonderful, and . . .

(interrupting) I don’t think so! I’ve had it with church. Church has been dull and boring my whole life. Those Bible stories? UGH! And everybody’s such a hypocrite. No. NO WAY! I’m not going to that church or any other church. I’m making my own decisions now. Nobody can make me do something I don’t want to do, anymore!

You see, Lil Sis was planning to become a pagan. She didn’t want anything to do with the church, with organized religion, maybe even with God. Being a pagan appealed to her, because it seemed to fit right in with her concerns for climate change. When she became a member of her high school’s Go Green Team, she learned a lot about all of creation. The team helped her see how much she wanted to care for the environment. Her college had a Go Green Team, too, and she had already been e-mailing them.

Oh. (Long pause) Well, then, Lil Sis, I’ll be praying for you.

Don’t pray for me, GranDaddio. Just get rid of that old gas-guzzler of a car you drive! (Gets up and storms out.)

Lil Sis went off to college. She did OK in her classes, but her real love, her passion was that Go Green Team. She spent all her extra money on environmental causes. Her parents didn’t understand why she never had money to do the things other students did. When it came time for Thanksgiving break, she went with the Go Green Team to a “reuse, renew, recycle” conference. It was Christmas break before she came home from school, for the first time.

Well, now, Lil Sis, it’s so good to see you! (They hug.) What have you been learning at college?

Lots of things, GranDaddio! I like my classes, but I’m really learning a lot about the environment.

Yes, I’m sure you are. (Pause) Listen, Lil Sis, I have something to say. (Another pause) Actually, I have a confession to make. I was pretty hurt by what you said when you left for college. But I listened to what you said. You were right, and I was wrong. I wasn’t paying attention to the environment. And I have been driving a gas-guzzler. So tomorrow, I want you to go with me to buy a brand new hybrid car!

Oh, GranDaddio!

Yes, Lil Sis, you helped me see something in my old age. Even with your angry words. (Pause) Maybe even BECAUSE your words were angry. You really got my attention.

But GranDaddio…you got my attention, too.

Really?!

Yes. I learned from my friend on our Go Green Team that the Bible talks about being good stewards of all God’s creation. He says even the church is waking up about going green.

Yes, even the church. Even an old priest like me. (They hug.)

Lil Sis and GranDaddio learned something that day. They learned that the truth, as one great teacher once put it, lies somewhere between us (Abraham Joshua Heschel). They learned that, in real life, we all have something to teach each other, we all have some wisdom to share. And we can all learn that this story has something to teach us about God’s mercy, God’s forgiveness. But wait: there’s more to the story.

Do you remember that there was another sis, Big Sis? She was in her bedroom when Lil Sis came home. And she didn’t want to come out, because she was angry. You see, when she graduated from high school, Big Sis decided she didn’t want to go to college right away. She wanted to stay home for awhile and figure out what to do with her life. Actually, she wanted to be with GranDaddio and take care of him. He seemed so lost without Grand-Mom, and she wanted to help. After all, she was the oldest and the most responsible granddaughter. But now, she was getting tired of being so responsible. She wanted to get on with her life, like Lil Sis.

(Storming in) Well, look who finally came home: the Green Goddess!! Are you tired of saving the planet yet?

(Standing up, angry) You’re just jealous – green with envy, because you didn’t go to college!

GranDaddio, DO something, will you, please? I’ve been here with you all along. I’M the one who takes care of you! Can’t you teach her how to be more grateful?

OK, you two! Settle down! (Long pause) Now listen to me for a minute, both of you. OK? (Pause) Big Sis, you have been so faithful, taking such good care of me over the last few months. You will always have my love, and when I die, I will leave you something in my will. I love you, and I will always love you. And Lil Sis, you have been faithful, too, but in a different way. You have been faithful to your faith system, your strong beliefs. You will always have my love, and when I die, I will leave you something in my will. I love you, and I will always love you.

Now: here’s what I want the two of you to think about. You are sisters – one Big, one Lil. You will always be sisters, no matter what. You’ll always be my beloved granddaughters, with whom I am well pleased. And it will please me even more, when you start loving each other enough to accept each other, just they way you are. (He gets up and walks off stage.)

Well, sisters and brothers in Christ, there you have it. Jesus told that story we heard a little while ago, that parable of the father and his two sons. This twist of a story we just heard shows us that, if we think hard enough, if we just use the imaginations God gave each one of us, we can picture ourselves in that parabolic story of Jesus. Maybe you’re the father or the older son or the younger son. Maybe you’re the mother, who is conspicuously absent from that Prodigal story.

And maybe, just maybe you’re the grandmother or the grandfather. Maybe you’re Big Sis or Lil Sis. The question is: where ARE you in this story? Chances are, you’re somewhere. And chances are you will be different characters in this story at different times in your life. Maybe you identify with more than one character at the same time. As an older son who left my home in Memphis for college in New England, as a father and a grandfather and a priest, I have no problem finding where I might fit in the Prodigal story at any given time. There are plenty of places for me – and for you – to plug in.

The question is: dare we do that? Dare we consider what God might be telling us with God’s story? Because this is GOD’S story. It’s a story about God. It’s a story about us, yes, about fathers and sons. It’s about grandparents and granddaughters. It’s about all of us. But first and foremost, the parable of the Prodigal Son is a story about God, the God who forgives us, no matter what. The God who invites us, every single day, to change our attitudes and our behaviors, to take a good look at ourselves, to repent of our sins, to forgive ourselves and then, to begin to think about how to forgive each other. Even our sisters and brothers. ESPECIALLY our sisters and brothers. Big Sis and Lil Sis have some thinking and praying to do. How about you? Are you ready to reconcile, so you can party?

(Big Sis and Lil Sis remain seated throughout the Nicene Creed and Prayers of the People, until Peace, which they exchange.)