For the Love of God

Sunday of the Prodigal Son. ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ Lk 15:21 Last Monday the 30th of January, Presbytera Lianna and I were blessed by our Lord in welcoming our son, Elijah Emmanuel into this world. Our daughters have fallen in absolute love and awe with their little brother. It brings us immense joy to see our little girls nurture and care for Elijah. Our oldest daughter Mia acts as if Elijah were her own son, it's rather cute; becoming over protective to the point she will not allow anyone to give him a cuddle. Thus, this bring us to the story of the Prodigal Son. The story of a young man that leaves behind all his duties within the family business in order to pursue life's earthly pleasures; in modern terms - sex, drugs and rock & roll! However, rather than condemning the young boy, his father rejoices when his son comes to his senses and returns home; proving that the love of a parent surpasses all things! Hence, if this is the case for us who are human with our limitations in rendering love, how much more is the love of the All-Holy-Trinity. A love that is infinite, immeasurable and limitless. We have all heard of those true crime stories where a person has committed a horrendous crime and has been sent to prison, yet that persons family still visits the convicted person because of love. It is one thing to be disappointed with a child lets say, than to totally eradicate that child out of ones life. Even though they have hurt one profoundly, one still can not help but see that little new-born once held in the arms all those years ago; proving that true love never dies! (Our Resurrected Lord)! Within the Acts of the Apostles, we know Saul who is the Apostle Paul persecuted the Church and it's members. He then goes on to become a great advocate to the Gospel of Christ and gives of his life for the sake of Christ's Holy Church; being beheaded by the emperor Nero between the years of 62-64 of our Lord and Saviour. Thus, Jesus in His supreme love turned Paul's shame into fame as He (Jesus) does with all who wholeheartedly come to their senses and make Metania. (Change of heart/direction) Now Saul approved of putting Stephen to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles. Some devout men buried Stephen, and mourned loudly for him. But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house; and he would drag away men and women and put them in prison. Acts 8:1-3 Therefore, due to our limited capacity to forgive, how can one say who God forgives and who He does not? I think as people we tend to pass judgement before we understand what the reality of a situation is. There are always two sides to a story. Who are we to say this person deserves punishment and this person does not? Only God who is good, righteous, humble, honest and transparent has the right to pass judgment! The Apostle Peter asks Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 18 Verses 21 and 22: “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Thus, when one reads this passage and interprets it in their own mind; outside the true teachings of the Apostles, we make a mess of it all. You see here the Apostle Peter is referring to his fellow BAPTISED brothers and sisters in the faith, not all of humanity. May I give an example regarding the above. For those of us who have siblings, how many times over the years have our siblings upset us to the point we want to throw a punch at them or stop talking to them altogether? I remember as a child I used to fight with my sister nearly every day but then after an hour we would be playing hide and seek as if nothing ever happened. Thus, 9 times out of 10 we get over it and move on because they are our family and that is what happens within families. From time time to time we get on each others nerves and say or do things out of frustration that we don't mean; we move on and get over it though because we love them. Furthermore, in the Gospel of Matthew we read, if someone slaps us on the cheek, we are to turn and offer the other cheek also. Now may I ask, why would Jesus want a person to physically hurt us? It just doesn't make sense! In actual fact, once again, Jesus is referring to our brothers and sister "The Church" those who share His (Jesus's) blood; that very blood that He voluntarily gave up on the wood of the cross.(Blood linage/family tree) In other words our Lord is simply asking us, rather than retaliating and fighting back, can we simply bite our tongue and let it go? However, when it comes to safeguarding our faith from those outside of it who are acting in a malicious manner, we are to do all that is necessary to protect ourselves. If that means to cut off and never have anything to do with a person so be it. Hence this is what Jesus is saying when He exhorts - And if thy right eye cause thee to fall, pluck it out and cast it from thee; for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. Mt 5:28 Therefore, let us never be afraid to safeguard our faith! A faith built upon the blood of the Martyrs and the sacrificial love of the Fathers and Mothers of yesteryear. In addition, let us remember to be compassionate and forgiving just as God is compassionate and forgiving towards us at all times. The love and communion we all share in Christ is the only way peace can abide amongst us; for He (Christ) is the peace from on High! A peace this material and artificial world cannot give nor fathom! “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” Lk 15:31 Through the prayers of the Theotokos, St Joseph Her spouse and all the Martyrs, Father Mothers and Saint of Christ's Holy Church, May He, Christ our God have mercy on us and save us, for He alone is good and loves us beyond conceiving. Amen