HH, Sir Godfrey Gregg D.Div

And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.–Luke 15:28

Failures of Our Duties to Our Equals: In the Family Circle

In the first place, we may see it in the narrow compass of the family circle. There are many and it is to be feared–many homes where the spirit of the elder brother still survives. Take each member of the circle separately, and you find each to be amiable and useful. One may be in an office–one a nurse–one a diligent visitor to the poor. And all these duties they faithfully fulfil, working for those set over them most loyally, or cheering, by the word and deed of comfort, the poor who are entrusted to their charge. No-fault can be found with them in these relationships. They fulfil them with every satisfaction. But is it not sometimes the case that these brothers and sisters are far from being a united family? The one thing that it seems impossible for them to do is to live harmoniously together or to share in the mutual and happy confidences which lie on the basis of a happy home.

In other words, the duties which they fail in are just the duties I am speaking of today. Towards their superiors, they are faithful and diligent. Towards their inferiors they are tender-hearted. But where they fail is in the family circle, where all are on the level of equality, and where the only duties that have placed are the duties that we owe towards our equals.

TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW ….