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The Parable of the Prodigal son, which we heard today, is one of the most descriptive, regarding the nature and character of only too many humans! The Holy Fathers of our Church, purposely chose this Parable to be read today, as a form of introduction to the solemn Holy Lenten Period, which commences in 3 weeks. They chose this Parable in order to remind us vividly of the infinite love and mercy of God to all of us. Additionally, to teach us, that when a person becomes distant from God, he or she suffers spiritually, mentally and physically, and that sooner or later, there is an awakening as well as a strong yearning to make the return and come closer to God. How apropos this Parable is for today’s society. It is just as applicable today, as when it was taught by our Lord 2000 years ago. We see so many young people, long before they are mature enough, firmly making the rash decision to free themselves from the presumed bondage at home. Without the proven experience, and what is even more tragic, these young people deafen their ears, so as not to hear the advice and admonition of their parents or elders. Sooner or later though, they do come face to face with the hard realities of life, and discover that things, were not exactly as they had envisioned and stubbornly believed! However, those who had a proper rearing, and had tasted of the warmth of their home in prior days, bring those scenes to their memory and make the decision to return home and ask for their parents' forgiveness and blessing. Others though, sink to such unfathomable depths, that they become completely lost, because they cannot find the road back. Surely, we all can imagine how deep the wound must have been, and how very painful for the father of today’s Gospel to hear the cold demands of his younger son’s Father, give me now the share that rightfully belongs to me! The Father pleads with his younger son saying: son, all that I have is yours. Please do not leave the warmth of our home at such a young age! But the son, whose imagination had run wild, heard no words and saw no tears. He strictly envisioned the grand times he would have with the great amount of money he would take with him. Finally after a long journey, the young lad found himself in a far-off land. It wasn’t long before he acquired many new friends, with whom he partied day after day. In this revelry, he thought to himself: How wrong my father was, to say that I would not enjoy the warmth of others outside our home! But the time did come --- and very soon at that, when his funds were completely depleted. And it happened, that just as his funds had totally disappeared, so did his merry friends. He was completely left alone. No one, but no one, came back to him to at least offer some consolation. Furthermore, as a result of a great famine that had set in at that time, the only employment he could find was to feed a herd of swine. At times his hunger was so great that he would eat from what was thrown to the swine. Then came the stark realization. He perceived for the first time his vanity and his foolishness, not to mention his selfishness and lack of consideration to his just father. It was a vivid picture of reality that was set before him, and it really shook him up. He thought of the least of the servants of his father’s household of being in a much more enviable position than he was in. Fortunately, after much serious thinking, he decides to make his return and ask for his father’s forgiveness. He was truly contrite, and really humbled, begging for his father’s forgiveness, beseeching him not to accept him as his son, but as the least of his servants. The father, as our Father in Heaven, received his prodigal son with outstretched arms, hugged him and kissed him. He ordered that the fatted calf would be killed and that the best robe be put upon him so that the celebration could begin. He expressed his great paternal joy to all present, saying: My son, who was dead is alive again; he was lost and now is found. So it is, that down through the ages, and all around us today, we see this same Parable unfolding. We see young people dissipating their youth --- damaging their health, and misusing all the qualities and talents given to them by God. Isn’t it odd, and I may say even perplexing? Young people demand their freedom and often end up in jails or institutions. They insist on endless good times, but frequently find themselves at a dead end, or in various asylums, --- incurable alcoholics or narcotic addicts. Thus, they become useless to themselves -- indeed a shattered dream to their parents, who nurtured them and surely a burden to society. The prodigal son wanted to go to a far-off land, because there he believed he could enjoy the fruits of true freedom. But, in this same vein of thinking, doesn’t the misery and unhappiness of so many people come from the fact, that they think like the prodigal? They seek their happiness in a far off land. We see this in the prodigal father for instance, who neglects his family obligations, and self-centeredly makes any sacrifice for his personal enjoyment in selfish living. We see this in the prodigal mother, betraying her God-given creativity and love, and involving herself in foreign grounds to satisfy her vanity and egotism. We see the prodigal scientist or intellectual, overlooking the fact, which all blessings and all perfect Gifts come from Above, from the Father of Lights, -- we see these intellectuals pursue the course of self-delusion, that they are the fountainheads of wisdom and knowledge. Would you not agree, that the self-centered and self righteous egotist seeks only to satisfy his or her desires without any consideration of the consequences? In this mass world of unrest and upheaval, it can rightfully be said that men and women as well as Nations, like the prodigal, have chosen to seek the far-off land. Far from where they rightfully belong and should be. Conditions in our world, or with individuals will never improve, if we do not come to the full realization, and pursue the road to humility. That is, to take the road back to our Father’s House and ask for His forgiveness and blessing! So many have strayed from God’s road, so as to risk spiritual and even physical death. The Father in today’s Parable truly portrays God, the Father, who patiently awaits for His prodigal children to return, and enjoy the blessed happiness, which they vainly sought in a far-off land. The joy of the Father in the Parable spills over, when he sees His son retracing his steps back to his Father’s House. The magnanimous Father, overlooks the wounds He had suffered, and immediately commands His servants to bring forth a new robe to clothe His son, and then to prepare the fatted calf for the banquet, because the son which was dead, had now come to life again. What a moving and soul stirring experience it must be, and to be sure, an experience which has been repeated down through the ages. The rejoining of parents and children after a heart-rending and near catastrophic separation. That is God’s true miracle -- when we witness these reunions of separated children and parents. The Lord emphasized the importance that is given, when even a single sinner repents and decides to return to ask for God’s mercy. He states that there is great joy in Heaven, when even a single sinner truly repents! This is the magnitude of God’s love, and the supreme value He places on every single individual. How then, can humans persist to live in their evil ways, when God opens up to all of us such a great and glorious road? If people would only stop to take the
necessary time to ponder on their mission and destiny in life, they most
assuredly wouldn’t choose to seek happiness in a far-off land, but rather,
would make good and full use of their God-given talents to enjoy, and also to be
of service to their fellow humans. The Parable of the Prodigal is
indeed a very powerful lesson for old and young alike. Its incidents and
implications must be understood, and should always serve as a vivid guide for
fruitful living. |
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