Homily on the 35th Sunday after Pentecost.
“ For this my son was dead and is alive again, he was lost and now is found!” Lk 15:24
Today we have heard about the foretaste of the Love, Compassion and Mercy of God which is sublime, wondrous and incomparable!
We heard that a young man approaches his father and asks for his portion of inheritance.
The son then leaves his father and the family business ‘if I may say in modern terms travels abroad in search for the earthly pleasures of this world which he believes will fill the hole in his very persona! However, as we continue to read or more precisely listen for in the Orthodox Church holy scripture is not read but proclaimed and liturgized; we see that the son soon finds out that “the grass isn’t greener on the other side of the fence!”
Often times, we too can be like the prodigal son, trying to fill the missing piece of the puzzle with man made inventions and myths; rendering a person stable and content for a small period of time, but sure enough - this will not be that missing piece of the puzzle!
Furthermore, there are times when we may be ungrateful of the Lord’s blessing upon us, taking advantage of certain situations in life; perhaps abusing positions of power. This of course is most definitely a reoccurring theme that people are having to constantly deal with; the individuals that like to refer to themselves as “fathers of the church!”
In the Orthodox Church, we have a prelude to Great Lent called the Trisagion weeks (three weeks of which each have the theme of humility) this is a most important time for us to commence the cleaning process within ourselves; transforming our hearts into the very sepulchre that housed our Lord’s Holy body after His Mortal death, in anticipation for His Glorious Resurrection!
“ Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet!” Lk 15:22
I would like to share a personal story which happened to me only last year. I experienced a form of depression which affected all aspects of my life including my spiritual life. I remember feeling as if I didn’t need the Church or ministry bestowed me in the mystery of holy orders as a deacon!
I made an appointment with our Most Reverend Archbishop and he decided that the most appropriate action to take was a one month dispensation from ministry. I was asked to think long and hard as to why I wanted to leave or stay after which I was directed to give a written response of my decision.
That month was by far the worst time of my life! To feel and experience the absence of God “ although he did not abandon me but I chose wilfully to walk away" it was as if life as we know is like putting together every person you love, but suddenly it felt like everything was away. It is only then that you truly feel as if there is nothing to live for!
However, God truly is the Merciful and compassionate Father! After that period of dispensation, I made the decision to continue with my ministry because after that feeling of God’s absence or more appropriately my gethsemani; I knew without a doubt that in order for me to truly live and not merely exist like many in a depressed state, I had to immediately anchor onto Christ and reclaim my place, my life in him as the Vine!
So I submitted my decision in writing and the Archbishop and Vicar General welcomed me back with open arms never holding a grudge or reminding me of my mishap, always encouraging me to strive for better. May I remind people, that our exarchate is unique, it never pushes people away regardless of their imperfections, rather, may walk away because God through this holy exarchate holds up a mirror and exposes people who just as the Lord ceased those who thirsted for the blood of the adulteress via stoning: he unveiled their sins and they immediately walked away!
Hence, as proclaimed in today’s gospel: we celebrated the divine liturgy that day and had a feast afterwards -rejoicing at my decision to remain in our Lord’s family which is the Church where the saints gather with us as we commune in the Lord!
Moreover, it is very easy to point the finger and say that it was because of evil that such an experienced occurred, but at the same token if I may render a familiar rebuttal: it takes two to tango!
Defiantly evil personified via the power of suggestion gave me such unrealistic expectations, unfortunately the subject of psychology fell short when it dismissed that which was at the top of its triangle hierarchy “spirit" but at the end of the day it was I that had the final say for we have the right of choice with the gift of free will! That is its beauty for with God there is always an invitation accepting our RSVP either to partake or to shun! If we live in Christ as His church evil has no power over us. It is only when we wilfully allow evil to take over the agenda and only then - everything goes haywire.
Furthermore, it could have been easy for the Lord to have stopped me from making such a mistake; however, if He had gone against my free will, firstly it would be a sham a canonical crime and the eternal one NEVER CHANGES HIS MIND! Secondly, I would not have learnt what the absence of God truly felt like and would not of been able to pass on my experiences and knowledge as a Father of the Church. For Lent is about growing – the springtime for the Church!
We are constantly being reminded of the Lord’s Mercy and compassion towards us the work of His hands. One particular part of the liturgy that renders thus comes to mind; the litany of supplication unfolds with the deacon chanting:
“May we acquire grace to live out our life with peace from above and come to our senses when we fall; returning to the Father who is ever ready to take us back in his mercy, let as ask of the Lord”.
Let us not fear our Lord but engage with Him in prayer. Not being fearful of our shortcomings because He has proven time and time again that He IS the Merciful Father that welcomes us with open arms when we return to Him. After all, the parable of the prodigal son highlights the mystery of incarnation – the Father meets his people via the Son's humility who via his passion and glory re-joins humanity to the new Eden: the promise of life everlasting to come!!!
Lord our God, you are the shepherd of our lives; may your rod keep us from paths of laziness, gossip, ambition, lust for power and verbal fodder.
Prostration
Thus you are mercy personified – open our eyes that we may see our faults, our ears that we may improve our lives and our heart that we may grow in love via humble endurance.
Prostration
Lord you are our King who bestows all goodness upon us – grant us awareness in order not to condemn others when they fail us; usher our minds to mirror thee in order to enfold them in thy flock so that they may praise you forevermore. Amen.
Prostration
Prayer of the elder Ephraim of Syria
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