John 10: 11 – 18 and 1 John 3: 16 – 24 :
Are you sitting comfortably?

Our traditional stories aren’t just for children, they’re for life!  So, are you sitting comfortably! Then I’ll begin!

Once upon a time there were three little pigs. One pig built a house of straw, while the second pig built his house with sticks.

They built their houses very quickly and then sang and danced for the rest of the day.  But the third little pig worked hard all day, building his house with bricks.

A big bad wolf saw the two little pigs while they danced and played, and thought “What juicy tender meals they will make!” So, he chased the two pigs and they ran and hid in their houses.

The big bad wolf went to the first house, made of straw and huffed and puffed and blew the house down in seconds. The frightened little pig ran to the second pig’s house, made of sticks.

The big bad wolf now came to this second house made of sticks and huffed and puffed and blew the house down in minutes. Now, the two little pigs were terrified and ran to the third pig’s house that was made of bricks.

The big bad wolf tried to huff and puff and blow the house down, but he could not. He tried for hours, but the house was very strong and the little pigs were safe inside.

He tried to enter through the chimney, but the third little pig boiled a big pot of water and kept it below the chimney. The wolf fell into it and died.

The two little pigs built themselves new houses made with bricks, and lived happily ever after.

The stories we tell our children, passed on through the generations are told to teach our children some ‘truths’ for life.  They are ‘cautionary’ or ‘moral’ tales. So, what do you think the story of the 3 little pigs teaches us?…………

Perhaps a number of things, but I’m going to concentrate on just one.

The three pigs spent their time, and the resources they had available to them, building a home, a place to live and thrive in within their means to do so. A place of safety and security.

One of them only has the resources, either monetarily or locally available, to build a straw house. How he longs for the resources to build better, or the luck to live somewhere safer than the barren place he was born and called ‘home’ – a humble and easily built shelter.

Likewise, the second pig builds with the resources available and affordable to him (or her). There are better financial resources and better building materials available to the third pig

Now. traditionally wolves get a bad press in our children’s stories, because they represent the things we are afraid of. But traditional tales often illustrate how we can overcome the wolf – our fears – because the wolf is usually dealt with by some resourceful thinking, perhaps some good, kind, loving and caring wisdom and action.

Anyway, the wolf chases the pigs as they hurry back to their homes. And arrives at the door of the first pig, the easiest target, first. This pig has the flimsiest of shelters, nothing better than a tent in a field, a shelter that will blow down in a puff.  And so, it does, leaving the first little pig homeless and in fear for his life.

So, he flees to find a place of safety. He outruns the wolf and finds the house of sticks made by the second pig.  Because of the second pigs better resources it’s a more sturdy and safe home.  He asks for refuge from the second pig, who kindly takes his poor neighbour in.

The wolf spreads his terror further afield, and it’s not long before the wolf catches up with the first pig in the home of the second, making the same threats and filling the two pigs with fear.  This house is made with better materials, a shed if you like, a place more resistant to the elements and other dangers and it remains standing for a little longer than the first… But still the huffing and puffing brings the stick house down.

Now two pigs are homeless and fleeing for their lives elsewhere, hoping that a kindly neighbour will give them shelter.

So they arrive at the house made of bricks.  Something more like the sort of place you and I live in. It has a hearth with a fire (oh, the luxury of a fire, after the combustible homes made of straw and sticks!) The two pigs are welcomed by the third pig, a pig of better means and lucky to be born somewhere with better prospects, resources and therefore a better standard of living.

The wolf threatens them as he did before. So, of course all three pigs are frightened. But the wolf, full of bluster, huffs and puffs, and puffs and huffs. But the house made of bricks can withstand his onslaught. So, the wolf tries a different tactic. Clambering onto the roof he slips down the chimney to catch his terrified prey, little knowing that the third pig had all the resources necessary to protect the lives of his less fortunate neighbours. He put all that he had at the disposal of those in need, making his own resources available to ensure the safety of those fleeing the bluster and violence of the powerful force of the persecutor.

His loving kindness and wisdom in putting his better resources at the disposal of those fearing for their lives ensured the safety of the refugee pigs, whose lives were in danger.

We are followers of Jesus who want to be good shepherds, good stewards of the world and all its people, laying our best at the disposal of the other sheep, even those who do not seem to belong ‘this’ fold. Jesus, the good shepherd, used his voice and resources, risked and lay down his life, to care for the sheep, to protect them.

Jesus did not judge people for their ‘worthiness’, he taught, healed and fed people, not because they were ‘worthy’, but because they were in need.

The third pig didn’t judge the other two pigs as to whether they were ‘worthy’ of his welcome, care and wisdom, he didn’t criticise their poverty or building prowess, he simply recognised their need – and responded.

We teach our children well… how easily we forget the lessons of childhood stories.

Be more like the resourceful third pig to a world of need!

Rev Janine