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11th in Luke 2005 OCALA "For I say unto you, that none of those guests who were invited shall taste of my supper." Luke 14:24 This phrase, my beloved, is from the Parable of the Great Supper, heard in the Orthodox Churches each year, during the 2nd Sunday before Christmas. Though it is repeated year after year, I often wonder if it truly has the effect, which it should. This Parable constitutes a stern reminder to those, who give priority of their worldly concerns and endeavors, over the acceptance of our Lord's invitation to partake with Him at the Great Supper. When the invited guests of today's Parable, one by one, excused themselves because they had something personal to execute, the Host of the Great Supper commanded his servants to go out into the streets and invite all so that His house could be filled. The Bible tells us that the Lord came unto His own, that is the Hebrews, and that His own did not receive Him. It was then that He commanded His Disciples to go forth and preach to all the Nations, that is, the people, who had become Idol-worshippers, and who, as we know, did respond to the Lord's invitation, to form the first Christian Communities. The Parable of the Great Supper spoken 2000 years ago, still has a vibrant and continuing meaning; -- it is the invitation of the Lord for all, to come to His supper of salvation; to the Supper of Grace; the Supper of Holy Communion, which, if properly received, does have the power to satisfy our deepest spiritual needs. However, this ongoing invitation of the Lord, so very often, falls on deaf ears; so many people today have become very complacent, even regarding most vital matters; they are indifferent in matters, which pertain to their real happiness and ultimate salvation.
And when we mention salvation, which indeed is most vital for our spiritual well-being, and gives the assurance for Eternal Life in God's presence, -- let's ask ourselves, just how important is this salvation to us? Here in our Church for example, there are empty seats each Sunday, when the Great Supper is offered. So many people choose voluntarily, or, let's say from indifference to attend Church on the Lord's Day, --- Sunday! Could we possibly say, that the absentees do not love God? --I hardly think so. -- I'm sure, that if we asked those absentees directly, they would most definitely respond: "Of course, I love God!' Then, a natural question would surface: "If you do love God, why then, do you not visit Him formally in His House on His Day? --To visit Him in His House, which He instituted, so that everyone could find their way to salvation, by being united with Him corporally through Holy Communion?" True, -- we're all busy; -- busy with things, to which we have become subjected, instead of having them subjected to us. I think though, that what we humans primarily lack is self-discipline, which I mention very often; that is, to arrange the priorities, which we should have in our life. The Lord expressly commanded us to keep the Sabbath, and to keep it Holy. It is the Lord's Day! It should be the highlight of the week, and should serve as our spiritual regeneration, and refueling, we might say, --- powerful enough to keep us energized for the week, until the following Sunday! It is sad to observe, that much to the detriment and the health of our society, commercialism has succeeded in neutralizing, if not almost obliterating the Lord's Day, so that it is just like any other day of the week. - -A day, when we perhaps have leisure time to catch up with our shopping, or what have you! As a result, we have paid heavily, spiritually speaking, and the cost will keep rising with this systematic, secularistic takeover. --Many of us here remember well, the Sunday Blue Laws, when Sunday was directly or indirectly respected, as a day of rest, and no business establishments were open. Still further, while we are citizens of the greatest Country in the world, it is unfortunate that the legal system has succeeded in nullifying the rights of the many, to respect the rights of the few. One example is, that in 1963 one Atheist succeeded to pass into National Law the prohibition of prayer in the schools. From that time, we started to backtrack, and commenced our downhill descent.---Why could this not have been a national referendum? -- To hear the voice of countless millions? In the last couple of years we have seen the controversies arising, when groups are trying to re-institute school prayer. When, if ever, this situation is going to be resolved, only God knows. --- Isn't it terrible, that in 1963 the 9 men of our Supreme Court chose to overthrow the established practice, espoused by so many millions, and to which no one objected. To be sure they had forgotten George Washington's Thanksgiving proclamation -- a true sermon -- which I brought to you at Thanksgiving time. These 9 Judges chose to obey a single, discordant, atheistic voice, to render their decision. --- A decision, which without any doubt has made our Country suffer needlessly, and irreparably. Experience has proven that man, having been created by God in His Image and Likeness, cannot truly live, and be happy, apart from God and His Commandments. --- When we give application to the Lord's teachings, to be sure, we bring out the finest in our character. God's greatest Gift to humanity for all time, was to give His Only Begotten Son, "a ransom for many," as St. Paul states in his Epistle to the Romans. --- In A days we shall once again be celebrating the Lord's Birth, when He chose to come amongst us.-- To live with us, -- and to offer us life, through our participation in the Great Supper, which He continually offers to us. The Lord's invitation also is extended to all, to become participants in our involvement with the Church. ---It is not by chance that in the Holy Scriptures, we see repeatedly that 10%, was the amount for the return of the Faithful's fruits, as their offering to the Temple. Now, nearing the close of the 20th Century, although, this 10%, or tithe, as it is called, is mentioned in the Bible, it is practiced only in a few Churches. --- Our Church leaves it up to the individual, as we are presently doing, in finally commencing our Drive for the future. But what can God think of those, who so reluctantly will not come forth to sign a pledge card, to offer even their minimum obligation to their Church? The Church, which will never refuse service to anyone. The Church, which they will surely need even once, in some occasion in their lives? The Church, that makes repeated and costly attempts to remind everyone of their obligation to the House of the Lord. I do hope all of us will rally and become part of our great and noble effort Let's all work together, to make this a better year for everyone concerned. I also do hope, that you have marked your Calendar for 7:00 o'clock Saturday, the 24th to be blessed by the Christmas Liturgy. Christ, without Christmas is another pagan holiday. --- God bless you and keep you always. Amen.
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