On the Sunday of the Prodigal Son, we reflect on the mercy of God the Father who is always ready to forgive. Salvation is a gift which can be accepted, tossed away in our sinfulness, and reclaimed in our repentance. God awaits us and, as the Gospel tells us, “He ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him” (Luke 15:20).
This week, we have received a humanitarian appeal from the family of a young girl, Pamel Bou Sejean, who suffers from Hodgkins Lymphoma, a type of leukemia, and is in desperate need of a stem cell donation. This is a simple procedure, similar to normal donation and may rescue the life of Pamela. To learn more about her case and to find out how you can help, please click here: http://www.facebook.com/curepamela
May our Lord bestow His blessings upon you all!
In Christ,
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20th Year—Number 999 Sunday 11/03/2012
Season of the Great Lent
Sunday of the Prodigal Son
Sunday’s Readings: 2 Corinthians 13: 5-13 & Luke 15: 11-32
I will get up and go to my father
Then Jesus said, ‘There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, "Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me." So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and travelled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living.
When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything.
But when he came to himself he said, "How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.’ "
So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son."
But the father said to his slaves, "Quickly, bring out a robe the best one and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!" And they began to celebrate.
‘Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, "Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound."
Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, "Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!" Then the father said to him, "Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found." ’ ” Luke 15: 11-32
Reflection of the Week
- All I have is yours -
The parable of the prodigal son highlights the vast difference between God's mercy, love and grace on the one hand, and the Pharisees hard, judgmental attitudes, on the other hand. This parable shows us that apart from God, there is nothing.
It teaches us also of ourselves. We know from the moment that the story begins, that the Prodigal Son is none other than our own selves. The Church proclaims this parable to us to hold up a mirror to us. In the prodigal son, can we see an image of ourselves.
The younger son, He asks for his inheritance--an unusual, yet legal request. The boy was in effect saying, "I don’t want to have to wait around for you to die to get what’s mine, Dad; since you haven’t died soon enough to suit me, I want what’s mine now."
The fall of the prodigal began the moment he claimed his rights; when he separated his interests from the interests of his family.
The father allows his younger son to leave. The prodigal got what he wanted, but lost what he had. The prodigal leaves for a "far country"; a place which exists first in our hearts. Like so many of us, his happiness was conditional upon his circumstances.
Freedom became freedom to sin, and pleasures provided a false enchantment. The prodigal was eager to "see life", apart from God—yet to say, "I will have no more of God" is to say "I will have no more of life."
When his money ran out He learned that we can’t enjoy the things money can buy if we ignore the things money cannot buy. The lost son "came to his senses", and "found" himself, we’re told in vs. 17. The first step of repentance comes when people realize the foolishness of their actions, and sense the despair into which they have fallen.
The prodigal complains about no one but himself, and speaks of no unworthiness but his own. He admits his eagerness to leave the protection of his home and offers no excuses to cover his guilt or justify his waywardness.
Guilt and shame are painful to face, yet we desperately need to see ourselves for what we are.
A mark of true repentance is the prodigal’s desire to be subject again to authority. He became lost when he claimed his rights; he is found when he surrenders them. The return to the father was a return to wisdom.
The father
When the son returned home the father runs to meet his son half-way, and lovingly embraces him. This is a vivid picture of grace. God offers the kiss of reconciliation when we turn to Him. He then calls to the servants to bring out the best robe--to cover the son’s poverty and shame; a ring--as a seal and symbol of his identity as a member of the household; and shoes--so that he can now walk in a new way... also, shoes were not worn by servants! The father does not humiliate his son, but welcomes him into all the privileges of the family and treats him with honour. He then directs the servants to prepare a feast.
The older brother
This older brother remained at home, out of trouble, obeying the rules. He considers himself the perfect. Outwardly he was in compliance with his father, but inwardly he too was far from home. He regarded his position in the family as one of bondage. He was home, yet not at home! It is a sign of spiritual decay when we are uncomfortable in a healthy environment.
The prodigal’s father chose to forgive; the older brother refused. Forgiveness is a bridge we build and may need to cross one day ourselves.
This parable is really about two prodigal sons. Both were slaves— both sons are far from home--one geographically, both spiritually.
People can live in the same house, eat together, work side-by-side, and yet emotionally be far apart.
We are all at different places in this parable: some more like the Prodigal, others more like the Older Brother. But there is one person who has no fault, and that is the Father. Let us all repent and grow in His likeness.
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Think about it - Sin promises freedom but it only brings slavery… it promises success, but it only brings failure… it promises life, but "the wages of sin is death."-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saints of the Week
Saint Gregory the Great, Pope (+604)
Maronite Feast Day: March 12
Pope Saint Gregory I was pope from 3 September 590 until his death. He is also known as Gregory the Dialogist in Eastern Orthodoxy because of his Dialogues. For this reason, English translations of Orthodox texts will sometimes list him as "Gregory Dialogus". He was the first of the popes to come from a monastic background. Gregory is a Doctor of the Church and one of the six Latin Fathers. Immediately after his death, Gregory was canonized by popular acclaim.
After the death of his father, he built six monasteries in Sicily and founded a seventh in his own house in Rome, which became the Benedictine Monastery of St. Andrew. Here, he himself assumed the monastic habit in 575, at the age of thirty-five. .
Saint Benedict, (+547)
Maronite Feast Day: March 15
Saint Benedict of Nursia was a saint from Italy, the founder of Western Christian monastic communities, and a rule giver for cenobitic monks. His purpose may be gleaned from his Rule, namely that "Christ ... may bring us all together to life eternal.” St Benedict was canonized by Pope Honorius III in the year 1220.
In one story of Benedict's life, a poor man came to the monastery begging for a little oil. Although Benedict commanded that the oil be given, the cellarer refused -- because there was only a tiny bit of oil left. If the cellarer gave any oil as alms there would be none for the monastery. Angry at this distrust of God's providence, Benedict knelt down to pray. As he prayed a bubbling sound came from inside the oil jar. The monks watched in fascination as oil from God filled the vessel so completely that it overflowed, leaked out beneath the lid and finally pushed the cover off, cascading out on to the floor.
St Patrick (+461)
Feast day March 17
St. Patrick of Ireland is one of the world's most popular saints. He was born around 385 in Scotland, Kilpatrick. His parents were Calpurnius and Conchessa, who were Romans living in Britian in charge of the colonies. As a boy of fourteen, he was captured during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. Ireland at this time was a land of Druids and pagans.
During his captivity, His religion was his solace, and so he became a devout Christian.
Patrick's captivity lasted until he was twenty, when he escaped after having a dream from God in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast. There he found some sailors who took him back to Britian, where he reunited with his family. He had another dream in which the people of Ireland were calling out to him "We beg you, holy youth, to come and walk among us once more."
He began his studies for the priesthood. He was ordained by St. Germanus, the Bishop of Auxerre, whom he had studied under for years.
Later, Patrick was ordained a bishop, and was sent to take the Gospel to Ireland. He arrived in Ireland March 25, 433, at Slane. One legend says that he met a chieftain of one of the tribes, who tried to kill Patrick. Patrick converted Dichu (the chieftain) after he was unable to move his arm until he became friendly to Patrick.
Patrick began preaching the Gospel throughout Ireland, converting many. He and his disciples preached and converted thousands and began building churches all over the country. Kings, their families, and entire kingdoms converted to Christianity when hearing Patrick's message.
Patrick worked many miracles and wrote of his love for God in Confessions. After years of living in poverty, traveling and enduring much suffering he died at Saul, where he had built the first church March 17, 461.
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The Maronites and Lebanon (2)
“Lebanon in the Bible (2)”
How is the Holy Bible a meaningful study about Lebanon ?
The Holy Bible has a meaningful study about Lebanon in the following ways:
Historically: the verses of the Bible show very important facts about Lebanon.
The greatness of the Lebanese cities “TYRE” & “SIDON” and the spread of the Phoenician trade and marine activities around. · the diffusion of the Phoenician culture and worshipping among the Jews. · building and decorating the temple of Jerusalem from the Cedars of Lebanon . · the genealogy of the Messiah to the Pheonicians. · the visits of Jesus to South Lebanon. · the spread of early Christianity in Lebanon.
Geographically: the Holy Bible describes Lebanon as a white snowy mountain, covered by forests releasing strong and pleasant odours, which are lead by the Cedar trees: the source of pride for all kings and the desirable tree for all powerful people.This mountain is a 2 mountain chain, one is eastern and the other is western, and the borderlines of Lebanon which are described in the Bible comform with her current geographical situa-tion.
Culturally the bible speaks highly of “houram” the skilled Lebanese tradesman who decorated the temple of Jerusalem and made it a masterpiece of beauty.
The Bible talks about HIRAM the King of Tyre and how he taught King Solomon and his people building houses, sailing, commerce and investment. King Solomon himself is grateful for some of his wisdom to HIRAM who helped him in expanding his knowledge.
Theologically: the Bible shows that the Jews were highly influenced by the Phoenician religious rites. The Holy Bible alludes twice of how the citizens of Tyre had liked to idolize themselves and their rulers. Concerning Jesus and the Church the Holy Bible talks about the final King Jesus symbolizing Him by the Cedar tree and illustrates how the crowd of people from South Lebanon used to come to Him listening to His teaching and believing in Him. The Holy Bible also indicates that Lebanon was the first place welcoming the early persecuted Christians and the first location after Palestine in founding Christian churches.
Moral: The Bible points out a negative picture about the international trade of the Lebanese city of Tyre accusing her people of treating unjustly the consumers. But on the other side the Bible mentions a positive aspect on the religious indulgence which existed in Lebanon: the King HIRAM accepted to take part in building Solomon’s God temple, the Prophet Elia took Lebanon as refuge, Jesus himself came to South Lebanon for a rest when the Jews and the Pharisees resisted him.
It is in Lebanon where religion is openness not fanaticism and the Lebanese-Phoenician traditions were characterized by sacrifice, universal peace and love among people regardless of their race, language or other considerations.
Eschatologically The Holy Bible describes Lebanon as charming greenland with nature plentiful of delightful water; a place stimulus to inspirations to the Prophets of the Holy Bible. They saw Lebanon as a small picture of the paradise and the desired land for the suffered nations and hope.
What would all these mean to us ?
Being Lebanese Maronite, definitely all the richness, density and the glorious picture which the Bible displays about Lebanon must mean a lot to us: It should be our first responsibility and duty to reflect to the whole world that glorious image which is described in the Bible about Lebanon.
Finally there should be no fear about Lebanon lapsing in both tradition and Christianity. The Holy Bible contains between its covers all the good things about Lebanon which are immortal as God and men. The Holy Bible is an eternal book which carries the name Lebanon for ever.
Reference for this article:
Rev Khalaf, G.E. (1985) Lebanon In The Holy Bible, Beirut, Dar Manhal Al-Hayat.
Next Sunday “Lebanon and the Church before the Maronite (1)”
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Links:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Charbels-Maronite-Catholic-Church-Sydney/365277440154672
http://www.stcharbel.org.au/
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