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The Prodigal Son Ocala 2-27-05 Page 1 One of the most powerful teachings of our Lord, which reflects countless dramas in all societies down through the ages, is the Parable of the Prodigal Son, which we heard in today's Gospel Lesson. --- It not only portrays the human weakness of gradually sliding to the depths of sin, but more importantly, it stresses the power and the blessings of forgiveness, and the glory which accompanies forgiveness. Today's Parable vividly portrays the fallen humanity of all ages; - the younger and elder, who by their selfish and self-centered choices, succeed in squelching the voice of their conscience, and submit to their selfish and self-gratifying interests. -- The forgiving Father of today's Parable is God, our Father, Who constantly awaits with arms outstretched, to welcome back His fallen children, and to offer them, their place in Heaven. The Holy Fathers of the undivided Church, so many centuries ago, chose edifying Parables and Teachings from the Gospels for the spiritual edification of all, in preparation for the long Lenten Period. -- What a heart-rending, --- and I might say what a horrifying drama parents must face, when they are tested by a prodigal son or daughter.- But also, what an inexpressible joy, and how great the fulfillment, when the prodigal decides to return, as did the one in today's Parable. The Prodigal in today's Parable is a prototype I would say, of all those people, whether young or older,- who believe, - that happiness lies outside their immediate environment. --- They venture to seek their imagined happiness in a far off land. Thus, they make the decision to pursue their sugar-coated fantasies, and then set out to seek their imagined happiness in a far off land, just as the Prodigal did. It is a pity, that our young generation no longer has true and tested role models, as in days of old. The eternal and proven values, which were the cornerstone of a healthy society, have been so watered down, or substituted, that they no longer have any value.--Oftentimes, we blame the young ones, whereas the fault lies more with the elders, who capitulated by compromising their moral values. The media has succeeded in creating "idols" of people, who have no moral values, and made them all multimillionaires. It is the notoriety and lifestyle of these modern-day "idols" that young people, and even some of the elderly seek to emulate. Sometimes in flipping through the channels in search of a decent program, I come across, what our young people call concerts, which I think should be called, not concerts, but the highest decibels of "confusion. " The heavy metal bands, with their deafening metal sounds and drumbeats, accented with the criss-crossing of powerful, colored spotlights constantly beaming back and forth, --- with those on stage, providing this mass confusion, whose appearance would scare even the freaks; and standing for hours in the audience, we see the entranced young ones, ecstatically yelling and screaming, jumping up and down with their arms upstretched, --- all these, present anything but a normal and healthy picture. Thousands upon thousands of our young ones pay upward of $30, $40 and $50 to be one of the those present. One truly wonders, where do these young people get all this money to systematically attend these concerts, and then to purchase the expensive CD's and other paraphernalia? Thus, the attendees have contributed in making so many multi-millionaires, of those, whose talent is nothing but eccentricity. Unfortunately, in our last Century of progress, and continuing now in the 21st century, it is still money which is the name of the game. This love and mania for money, has become the arch-corrupter in so many fields, and has brought nothing but misery and total unhappiness. How beautiful it was in past years, when parents could easily take their children to a professional ball game for reasonable and affordable prices!-- Can the parents of today, take their two or three children to a game costing a few hundred dollars, without literally sacrificing even some necessity? Something's radically wrong, when a 7 foot, 22 year old basketball player signs a five years contract for $125,000,000! I'm not old-fashioned, but a generation ago a Movie star was a person, who had proven himself or herself in the theater. Today, through public relations, a non-entity becomes a star overnight, and since the brainwashed public will continue to pay $7 to $10 for a movie, these supposed stars of today, demand and receive upwards of $20,000,000 per picture. -- Yes, something is radically wrong! A glance in the papers, the magazines, or T.V. one can see endless advertisements, "how to get rich quick,--- and even without leaving your home!" Opportunities for this, and opportunities for that; and the hype is up, that we should respond and not miss out! All deceiving and artificial. The Lord created us to be born, - to naturally pass through the stages of youth, maturity, middle age, and to gracefully enter the elder years, to ultimately return to Him. Again the advertising media, constantly emphasizing the artificially transforming of the elders into a younger person again.--Here again, money is the name of the game. In reality though, the ones who fall victims are deceiving no one, but themselves. How many homes have been destroyed by women and even men becoming addicts of the Soap Operas, deceiving themselves into believing, that what they see on the screen, represents life as it is, or, should be. --- So,---they set out to seek their happiness in a far off land, only to realize that the real and genuine happiness is in a God-loving home. Thus, the prodigal is not confined to the Parable we heard today, where the son sought happiness in a far off land, and who learned the hard way, that the real happiness was in the home from which he left, and finally having come to his senses, he greatly lamented, because he broken his father's heart. The prodigals are seen in all ages, and in all walks of life. Their selfishness and ego-centricity bring so much misery to themselves and to their families. These self-centered people, to put it simply, are selfish and egocentric individuals, who consider no one's feelings, but their own. I think that the problem lies in the fact, that the seekers of a far-off land, never stop for a moment to think of the consequences of their actions, and the misery these will bring to them, and to their families. It seems to be the mania of the day for so many young people; --- instant gratification, or something envisioned and pursued,-which turns out to be so empty, simply because it was from the beginning nothing but a Utopia. Truly, we do live in a difficult and complex world. In days not too far back, we had the protection of the law; there was respect; people were mellow. In school we not only learned the three "R's", but the teacher was also concerned about our conduct, manners and appearance, seeking ways to make corrections when needed. To be sure the Teachers were an extension of our home concerns. Today, the teachers are intimidated by the students; --- and if a teacher, true to her calling, reprimands a student, some parents will bring pressure, and even have their child sue the teacher. This was unimaginable in the past, and the reality is, that the dedicated teachers are intimidated by the legal system, which really has no place in the classroom. As a result many qualified teachers are leaving the profession, which becomes a terrible void in the system. Yes,--- it is easy to become pessimistic in today's world, when even the goings on in some Churches, makes one wonder, as to what their mission is. Everyday in the papers you'll read of some Denomination blessing that, which the Bible emphatically condemns as immoral. Most definitely the Lord taught, that there is only one road, which leads to complete happiness; and that is, the path which leads to God. The Lord gave us the complete moral guide, by the ethical teachings in His Sermon on the Mount, contained in the 5th, 6th and 7th Chapters of St. Matthew's Gospel. Perhaps we the faithful, as individuals, cannot change the world, but surely, we can do much, to influence our immediate environment, by our exemplary life; and when this is multiplied, society does get an uplift. All of us, can do more than we are doing. We must become more positive in our life. The Church will continually preach this. It is up to us to take the time --- to make time, --- and discern the things, which will give us greater spiritual growth, and which most assuredly will grant us true fulfillment, happiness and contentment, without the fallacy of us having to seek happiness in a far off land. Amen + Fr.George Papadeas
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