Nobody is so bad that he cannot change

Lc 7,36-8,3 or 36-50

Author Cecília Pellegrini

Today’s story happens in the forest of Greece and all of the characters are five animals, with well-known features. I introduce you to Zebraus (a zebra, who represents Zeus), Abena (a bee, who represents Athena), Porcodon (a pig who represents Poseidon), Merduza (a fish who represents Medusa) and Cleopata (a duck who represents Cleopatra).

One day Merduza organizes a reception in her house, with all of the best so that the animals of the forest can welcome the great Zebraus.

When all the guests had already arrived at her beautiful house, the hostess asks the music to stop for her to speak - I am very happy in receiving at my house the great Zebraus, the King of Olympus. Long live Zebraus!

All the guests shout - Long live!

Abena, a close friend of Merduza, says - Dear friend, thank you very much for inviting me.

Merduza explains - To be at my house, in King Zebraus' presence, I only chose the animals that are like me fair, law abiding, and the ones that only do what is right, in other words, the ones that are the top of the line!

Porcodon, another guest complements - And above all the ones that don't wander and don't fail.

Everybody say - We are the best ones!

Merduza invites to all for the banquet - The table is set, we shall eat.

All go the table and feast on the delicious food. Suddenly a duck called Cleopata enters running, crying and shouts to the King - Lord Zebraus! She kneels down before Him and says - I am very sorry of all of the wrong that I did. The other guests go to a corner, far away from Cleopata, because they don't want to mix with her.

Porcodon pulls the hostess aside and says indignantly - Merduza, how you dare to invite Cleopata to your house?

Merduza answers loud and angry - She is an intruder, gatecrasher, foreigner. A sinful shrew.

Abena who was listening to all, says - She isn’t fit joins us. Merduza angrily says - I’m wondering why the Lord, who knows everything, who sees everything, lets that Cleopata touch him and speak to him...

Cleopata still crying asks - forgive my mistakes, Lord.

Zebraus lifts the duck and says - Be calm Cleopata, your mistakes are forgiven.

The perplexed guests question - What?

Cleopata is very grateful - Thank you Lord.

Zebraus completes - Only do no more wrong.

The duck promises - I won't make more wrong, my regret is true. From now on, I will be a duck that will always walk in the right path and I will take your teachings to all the animals of this forest. Once again thank you.

Zebraus blesses her - Go in peace! The duck says goodbye to the other animals, but apart for not replying, all turn their backs, making clear that she was an outsider.

Merduza says angrily - I don't believe in what I saw here. Zebraus, you spoke to a sinner and worst you were kind to her! She is bad!

Zebraus says - For you it doesn't matter how and why Cleopata did so much wrong. She has always been damned.

All asserted - Yes, forever and ever!

Zebraus makes a request - Why don't you also forgive her?

Porcodon speaks on behalf of all - We didn't forgive because we think we are better than she is. We don't make the wrong that she does.

Abena completes - She is a bad person.

Zebraus teaches - Nobody is so bad that they cannot change.

Merduza gives her opinion - Because I think when the person is bad, evil, she can’t improve. I don't know anybody who was bad and turned good.

Zebraus explains that it is not our mission to judge. In addition, if the sinner is sorry, we should always forgive.

The animals are surprised and ask - Always?

Zebraus answers - Always! They are fair the ones that recognizing the flaws, their mistakes, are sorry and they ask for forgiveness.

The animals are thoughtful. Merduza is the first to recognize Well; I never stopped to think in the way that I live because I never forgave.

Porcodon says - Me too. I thought it was enough to follow the laws, to go to the mass...

Abena says - I always point to others mistakes because I believe that I don't wander.

Calmly, Zebraus teaches - It’s not enough to go to mass and then speak ill about the other, pointing to others’ mistakes. We have to help our brother to not to wander more. Nobody is better than anybody is.

Merduza understood the Lord's words - Gee, that served for me... Zebraus, I have been wandering a lot because I always felt better than the other ones, for that I didn't forgive.

The other animals confirm that they also acted always like this and they recognized that they have many failures.

Zebraus, who always wants us to go in the good way, says - Even with so many mistakes and with so many flaws, you are better off than you imagine.

The animals ask - Is there hope for us then?

Zebraus ends - Sure! We have to be ready to keep on going. Remember nobody is so bad that he cannot change.

All promised that they wouldn’t give in, as they’ll try to get better.

Merduza decided to prove that the promise was true. She ran after Cleopata and she brought her to live with all others, and from that day on peace, union and forbearance prevailed in that forest.