Never Too Late

In the Gospel last Sunday, Jesus offered the story of two sons who had very different responses to their father’s request to go out and work. One son said “no” but later did the work while the other son said “yes” but never did do the work—there were no TV’s or iPads but I wonder what wild thing the father had to do to actually get his sons’ attention long enough to get a response. At different times in our lives, I am sure we have identified with all three characters from the story. At morning assembly, though, I focused on the first son and his choice. Last week, when talking about “toughness,” I mentioned how Jay Bilas’ father told him it took many steps to reach the top of the ladder but only one to fall to the bottom of it. In the first son from the Gospel, I see a parallel with a more positive twist—you can make many bad choices in your life but it is never too late to make the right one, just like the son who at first told his father no but obeyed him in the end.

My peace bringing mission to the students this week is for them to continue practicing kindness. However, this week, like the first son in the Gospel, they have to right a wrong. I challenged them to find one person they need to say sorry to and apologize. It could be a teacher whose class was disrupted, a parent whose request was ignored, or a classmate whose feelings were hurt. If students can’t think of anyone, my secondary challenge is to complete a task that could bring a smile to someone’s face. Some examples could be raking leaves—or in my case pine needles—without being asked; helping a friend study for a tough test; or praying a decade of the rosary for someone who is sick. Whatever choice our students make, it is important for them to remember it is never too late to make the right one—for when they do God will be waiting for them, and he will be smiling.