LUCEAT LUX

The Elder Brother's Story

Posted Thursday, 23-Mar-2006 9:48 AM

              The Parable of the Prodigal Son is by far the most popular parable in the Bible. It has captured the sweet story of love and forgiveness between father and son. And it is precisely how enduring this kind of unconditional love can be that makes this parable most appealing and relevant to our lives. And oftentimes, in the gesture of storytelling, priests and teachers often give focus only on these two main characters quite forgetting important lessons that can also be learned from the third most important character, the elder brother.

              Jesuit Communications brings to us these important lessons by way of a beautifully crafted picture book written by Fr. Johnny Go, SJ and illustrated by Mr. Joseph Gotinga. It was aptly entitled, “The Parable of the Elder Brother” and it was launched last March 17, 2006 in the Angelo King Multipurpose Center of our very own school. The book also includes noteworthy praises from respected Jesuits, Fr. C.G. Arevalo, S.J. and Fr. James Reuter, S.J.

              Fr. Go opens us to all the good intentions of the elder brother whose love for both father and sibling was immense enough to will him to pay the price of sacrifice. It is the same sacrifice that makes for a powerful wake up call to the son who had gone astray. The very simple story of the elder brother also contains with it a powerful metaphor with allusions to our own faith no matter how old or young we are.

              Furthermore, the story has been adapted to our times with, for instance, the younger son languishing in modern worldly pleasures and the elder brother suffering in the hands of a gang. This adaptation is a most welcomed feature as it makes it an even more easy read not only for young kids but also for teachers and parents who intend to include this in their collection for storytelling.

              “The Parable of the Elder Brother” is indeed a good book to read and learn from.

The book retails at Php 180.00 and is now available at any of the Tanging Yaman stores at the Jesuit Communication Office-Sonolux Building and Loyola  House of Studies, or at the fifth floor of SM Megamall, or the second floor of GateWay Mall Concourse Area  and all leading bookstores nationwide.

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