Parable of the Prodigal Son or, better yet, the Loving Father . . . .

Ninth Sunday after Trinity, Sunday, July 28. 2013

Fr. Todd Bragg

St. Margaret Anglican Church

Indianapolis, Indiana

" . . . and when he came to himself . . ." (St. Luke 15:11 ff)

Today St. Luke relates for us what some commentators have deemed, perhaps, the most famous story in the entire world.  Certainly, this may in fact be true.  Even in TV shows and Movies which have done this theme or at least use the story-line  of this story.  Certainly, one of the reasons that this story was so powerful to the original audience and to numerous audiences over the years is the fact that this is something that everyone of us can hear it in terms that each of us can understand.  Our Lord was a powerful speaker.  People gathered from far and near to hear Him preach.  They would ask among themselves, "who is this that speaks with such power and authority?"  It could be said that one of the reasons that Our Blessed Saviour spoke to so many is because He spoke directly from the heart.  And one of the ways in which He did this was to grab the attention of those gathered around Him with powerful stories that we heard today.  He grabbed their attention and in turn they wanted to find out what happened next.

Now, everyone knows this story by heart.  It is the story of a young man who, quite frankly, had a lot of nerve, to say the least.  He demanded one day that his father give him his inheritance even before his father was dead!!!!  What hutzpah!  Well, to make a long story short, he took the money and ran, literally!  He went off and spent all of the money that his father gave him on harlots and riotous living as his brother reminds us later in our story today.  But when he hit rock-bottom . . . keep in mind when you hit rock-bottom, there is nowhere to go but sideways or to go back up! .  . . . but when things seems like they could not get any worse, that is when he came to his senses and decided that he would go back home to his father and to admit that he was wrong to do what he did and ask for forgiveness.

Now, as I have stated in years past, I think this parable is misnamed.  We have come to identify this story as the "Prodigal Son" but, in my humble opinion, it should really be called the story of the "Loving Father" because it is really the father who stands out as the hero of the story.

One of the most beautiful passages is all of Scripture occurs in Verse 20 where we hear the following:  "And (the son) arose and came to his father.  But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him."  The imagery in this brief sentence is spectacular, to say the least.  The fact that Our Blessed Lord points out that the father saw his son implies that the father was looking for his son ever since his son left.  And once he saw his son, he did not wait for his son to come to him, he took it upon himself to run to the son.

He did not lord it over the son what he had done wrong.  He did not act with bitterness.  The father did not hold it over his son's head.  On the contrary, he stated for the servants to get the best robe and put it on him.  Now, as with most things in Scripture, keep in mind, items such as this symbolize important things.  In this case the robe symbolizes honor and dignity.  Harken back to Zechariah 3:4:  "And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take the filthy garments from him.  And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with a change of raiment."  Now, this is certainly what the father did for his son.  He placed on him the best robe to signify the love he had for his son and not bitterness.

Next, he placed the ring on his son's finger.  Now, especially in those days, giving someone a ring signified authority that you were giving that person to whom the ring is given.  It was sort of like giving that person a power of attorney to act on their behalf.  In Genesis 41:42 it is written what Pharaoh did for Joseph:  "And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it on Joseph's hand and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck."  So, too, did the father give to his son, a symbol of authority.  Hardly the gift to give to someone that he held bitterness against.

Finally, he stated to give his son shoes to place on his feet.  Keep in mind that shoes represented freedom because only free people wore shoes.  Slaves did not wear shoes.  Think back to what the son had planned to ask the father.  He wanted the father to make him a hired hand, a hired servant.  Now, a hired servant, when you think about it, was even lower than a slave because a hired servant could be let go at any time for any reason.  Whereas a slave was considered part of the household, and in that sense a part of the family.  So when the son was asking to be made a simple hired servant, he was really asking to be made lower than a slave.  His father made him higher than a servant or a slave by placing shoes on his son's feet.

Now, what started all of this off was when the son came to his senses.  As we heard today:  " . . . and when he came to himself . . ."  In other words, this phrase means that the son came to the realization that something was wrong, he woke up, he came to his senses. etc.  The only other time I could find that his phrase was used in Scripture was in the Acts of the Apostles when St. Peter was locked up in prison and the doors were opened and his chains were broken and we hear:  "And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety that the Lord has sent his angel . .  . "  (Acts 12:11)

Now the Prodigal Son came to himself, he came to, he woke up, he came to the realization that something was wrong in his life and that something needed to take place to correct it.  Now recognizing the fact that something is wrong is only half of the battle.  The key is to recognize that something is wrong and then follow through and do something about it.  Very often, people will recognize that something is wrong but they choose not to do anything about it.  What about if you have a leak under your sink and you recognize that there is a leak because you hear the constant drip drip drip and you have to keep emptying the bucket of the water every so often.  So you know that there is something wrong with the plumbing but until the make the effort to either fix the leak yourself or to call a plumber, the problem will continue to be there.  In that sense, recognizing the problem is not enough.  The Prodigal Son knew he had a problem.  The change came when he followed through and finding a solution.

If you read the Confessions of St. Augustine, you will read the following line:  "Thou has made us for Thyself, and our souls are restless until they find their rest in Thee."  St. Augustine was a young man who, simply put, went from one thing to another to another searching for satisfaction in his life.  Everything he tried only satisfied him for a brief time and then ultimately whatever captured his fancy for a time would ultimately lose its' hold on him and he would search for something else to capture his fancy all over again.  And he discovered a pattern in his life:  everything that he found pleasure in . . . whether it was drink or women or even his beloved academics   . .  . . each of these things gave him much pleasure for a short time but the pleasure and the satisfaction wore out each and every time.  It was not until he discovered God that he found his satisfaction in God never wore out:  " . . . our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee!"

St. Augustine wrote:  "Late have I loved You, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved You!  You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there that I searched for you.  In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things you created.  You were with me, but I was not with you.  Created things kept me from you, yet if they had not been in you, they would not have been at all."

"You called, You shouted, and You broke through my deafness.  You flashed, You shone, you dispelled my blindness . . .  You touched me, and I burned for your peace."

St. Augustine is acknowledging the fact that he was finding pleasure in created things instead of the Creator of these things.  He came to the realization that nothing could bring him true, everlasting joy like God did.

Like the Prodigal Son and like St. Augustine, simply recognizing that there is a problem is only half of the battle.  We are called to gain the solution to the problem.   " . . .  for the Lord searcheth all hearts and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts:  if thou seek Him, He will be found of thee."  (I Chronicles 28:9)  As Christians, we are called to search for God on a daily basis.  We are called to search for Him not just on Sundays when we come to Mass, not just when we feel like it, not just when we hit rock-bottom like the Prodigal Son did.  We are called to search for God and to have a relationship with Him.

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."  (St. Matthew 6:33)  "Ask, and it shall be given you, seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.  For everyone that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh findeth." (St. Matthew 7:7-8)

We are called to seek God.  We are called to have a relationship with God.  We need to seek God on  a daily basis.  Give your heart to Him.  Give your life to Him.  We are called to be born again each one of us, because we need to give our lives over to Him:  "Seek ye Me, and ye shall live!"

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St. Margaret of Scotland Anglican Church

Ninth Sunday after Trinity, July 28, 2013

Ninth Sunday after Trinity, July 28, 2013

In the story that has come to be best known as the "Prodigal Son," Our Blessed Lord tells the story of the son who wanted to have things his own way and he wanted to enjoy his father's inheritance even before the father had died!  But, to make a long story short, after a while the son realized that "living life in the fast lane" really was not what he thought it would be like and he came to his senses.  St. Luke describes the thoughts of the son when he came to this realization:  "I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants."  

First and foremost, it is us who have to first realize that we are in need of God and also that we are ready to seek God.  So often in our life, we may very well acknowledge that there is a problem but we may still ignore the problem and refuse to do anything about it.  In that sense, the key is not recognizing that there is a problem.  That is certainly the start.  The real key is to recognize that there is a problem and then do something about it.  This is what the son did.  He recognized that he had made a mistake and he chose to remedy the problem by going back to his father in humility and to ask for forgiveness.  

The most wonderful part of the parable is yet to come, though.  Our Blessed Lord continues the parable by telling what happens next:  "And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him."  

This is how it is for us when we come to God.  It is God Who reaches out to us.  It is God Who searches for us.  It is God Who goes over and beyond for us.  Recognizing that we have a problem is only part of the solution.  The other half is once we realize that we have a problem, is to seek out the cure.  And for us, that is to seek God, to make Him a part of our life on a daily basis!

Join St. Margaret Church for Mass as we celebrate the Ninth Sunday after Trinity on Sunday, July 28, 2013.  St. Margaret worships at the Chapel at Marquette Manor, which is located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis, near 86th Street and Township Line Road.  Join us as we worship Our Blessed Lord and receive Him in Holy Communion.  Mass begins at 9:30 AM with a coffee hour to follow.

Please visit our website at:

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But Ye have received the Spirit of Adoption

Eighth Sunday after Trinity, Sunday, 7.21. 2013

Fr. Todd Bragg

St. Margaret Anglican Church

Indianapolis, Indiana

" . . . but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father . . ." (Romans 8:12ff)

Certainly, as we look through Scripture, we see a wide array of colorful, complex characters.  St. Paul would certainly count as a colorful, complex character.  If we look at the life of St. Paul, we soon notice that there were many different aspects of his life:  he was a devout Jew; he went on to become a devout Christian and follower of Christ; and he also pointed out that he was a Roman Citizen.  Think back to the Acts of the Apostles.  On one of the many journeys of St. Paul, he is taken prisoner and accused of being a "Pestilent Fellow" and a "mover of sedition" (Acts 24:5).  While he was in custody, he was struck by one of the Roman soldiers, to which St. Paul replied:  "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is Roman?" (Acts 22:25)  In fact, he not only points out that he is a Roman citizen but uses this citizenship to request an appeal to the Roman authorities as a Roman citizen.  Now, keep in mind that St. Paul is not doing this as a clever way out of custody because he says prior to this that he will gladly suffer punishment for some crime that he has done.  But he refuses to be found guilty of some wrong that he has not done.  Thus, it must be presumed that St. Paul was proud that he was a Roman citizen and not merely using that citizenship as a way to get out of this latest "fix" that he found himself in.

Now, the reason I spend so much time pointing this out is because in order for us to truly understand the background of why things were written in Scripture, it is good for us to know the perspective of who is doing the writing or to whom the letter is being written or the circumstances that led to the writing of the letter, etc.  So when we hear in the Epistle today where St. Paul makes reference to "adoption," he is more than likely looking at it with the understanding of adoption in the perspective of Roman law and how adoption was viewed in Roman customs and tradition of the day.

In Roman society, adoption was always a very serious matter.  We say this because in Roman society, it was ruled by the "Patria Potestas."  This is a Latin term basically meaning that the father had the absolute rule of the family and the father had the absolute rule of the family always.  In our modern society, we basically say that once children reach the age of 18, they are then considered legal adults and have rights as such.  Back in the time of St. Paul, children would still be considered children no matter what age they were and, as such, were under the rule of the "Patria Potestas."    So in order for an adoption to take place, it would have to be shown and proven that the one Father gave up any and all rights to the son in order for that son to be adopted by the new Father.  In other words, one would go from one "Patria Potestas" to another "Patria Potesta."

There were two formalities in a legal adoption in Roman tradition:  1)  Mancipatio.  This was a symbolic act using a scale used for weights and copper coins.  Basically, it went like this:  the original father would place the copper coins on the scale symbolizing the selling of the son to the new father.  The first two times, though, the original father "buys back" the son symbolically but the third time, he refuses to "buy back" the son and then, as a result, his "Patria Potesta" is considered broken forever in regards to "ownership" and "rights" over his son.  2)  Vindicatio.  This is where the adopting father goes to the Roman magistrate and makes the case for adoption and the adoption is made binding and legal.

When a child was adopted in Roman culture, there were aspects there were consequences of the adoption:  1)  Adopted person lost all rights to the old family;  2) adopted person became heir to the new father's estate; 3)  the old life of the adopted child was completely wiped away.  Thus, for example, any debts incurred would be wiped clean because the "old" child was gone forever and now the "new" child existed;  4)  in the eyes of the law, the son was absolutely considered the child of the adoptive father in the eyes of the law.

Thus, when we keep all of this in perspective, we realize that when St. Paul states that we are "adopted children of God,"  we know that St. Paul is pointing out what he knows about adoption from the Roman perspective as a Roman citizen:  i.e., it is permanent; it is binding; it wipes away the former life; and, finally, the adoption entitles the adopted children to become heirs.

In the Letter to the Galatians, we hear the following:  "To redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons.  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.  Wherefore thou art no more a servant but a son.  And if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." (Galatians 4:5-7)  St. Paul is emphasizing that we are heirs and are entitled to the love and salvation that God freely chooses to endow upon us.  Now, of course, we also have to do our part.  This involves responsibility of being God's children:  living as Christians on a daily basis; responding to God's call in our life; following the commandments of God; having a relationship with God; showing the love of God to others.

God has chosen us to be His children.  As we hear in the Letter to the Ephesians:  "According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:  Having predestined us as unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself according to the good pleasure of His will."  (Ephesians 1:4-5)  Let us live as children of God, knowing that He has chosen us from the foundation of the world, knowing that His Son freely gave up His life by dying on the Cross to ensure the forgiveness of our sins.  Let us hold firm to our being sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father by remaining firm in our love of Him.

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St. Margaret Anglican Church

Graft in our hearts the love of Thy Name

Seventh Sunday after Trinity, Sunday, July 14, 2013

Fr. Todd Bragg

St. Margaret Anglican Church

Indianapolis, Indiana

"Graft in our hearts the love of Thy Name." (Opening Collect from Mass of the Seventh Sunday after Trinity)

Typically, you know that I either base my homily on the Epistle of the day or the Gospel of the day.  When I begin working on my sermon, I read through the readings and normally something will jump out at me and this will be the foundation of my sermon or homily.  This week, what jumped out and grabbed me was the opening collect:  "Lord of all power and might, Who are the author and giver of all good things:  Graft in our hearts the love of Thy Name . . ."

Now I went to Dictionary.com and looked up the word "name" and this is what was listed:  "a word or combination of words by which a person, place, or thing, a body or class, or any object of thought is designated, called, or known."  This sounds pretty reasonable.  We give names to people or animals or objects which help to identify it  or designate it.  Those of you who are parents who have ever had to go through your children begging you to get some sort of a pet . . .  whether it be a dog, a cat, or a hamster,  . . . . after you finally give in, then you have to give a name to properly designate the pet.  Typically, the name should fit the animal.  Even going all the way back to Adam, this seems to be the norm:  "And out of the ground the Lord formed every beast  . . . . and every fowl . . .  and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them:  and whatsoever Adam called every living creature that was the name thereof."  (Genesis 2:19)  Thus, the naming of an animal helps to designate or describe the animal in question.

Now, a name is very important not only for animals but also for people as well.  Again, you parents when you had your children and it was time for you to pick out a name, did you open up the phone book and put your finger on the first name that you found?  Of course not, you put thought into because you wanted to pick an appropriate name.  Further on in the Book of Genesis, we hear the following, God speaking to Abram:  "And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great and thou shalt be a blessing." (Genesis 12:2)  Elsewhere we read:  "Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but they name shall be Abraham: for a father of many nations have I made thee." (Genesis 17:5)  God shows us that a name can be very important because it not only designates but also represents the person or thing it is naming.  God changed Abram's name to Abraham because the name signified the importance given to him by God.

Now, we all know that the Jewish people had great respect for God.  In fact, their respect and awe was so profound that they would not utter the Name of God because they felt unworthy to even utter His Name.  "Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord Thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His Name in vain."  (Exodus 20:7)  Also, we hear the following:  " . . . neither shalt thou profane the Name of Thy God:  I Am The Lord." (Leviticus 18:21)  Now I do realize that I am preaching to the choir and we do not take the Name of the Lord in vain but how many times do you hear on TV or in a movie, someone taking the Lord's Name in vain?  How often will you be out in public at your local store or shopping mall and hear someone take the Lord's Name in vain?  We are instructed NOT to take the Lord's Name in vain because in so doing we are dishonoring God.  We speak His Name out of respect out of the love and respect that we hold for God in our hearts.

One of the traditions or customs that I am so happy that we as Anglicans still hold on to is bowing our head at the Name of Jesus.  So many churches unfortunately around the world have let go of this tradition and it is really sad, if you ask me.  What is so important about bowing your head when the Lord's Name is mentioned, you may ask?  Because when we bow our heads, it is a reminder to us and to anybody else who notices that this Name is sacred, that it is special, that we reverence that Name above all others.

Now, I tried to compile a short list of the various names attributed to Jesus in Holy Scripture.  Keep in mind that this is just a small sampling because there are many, many more names that I could have written down but here are a few:  Emmanuel (Isaiah 7:14); Wonderful Counselor, and Mighty God (Isaiah 9:6);  Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6); Stem of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1); The Lord Our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6); The Messiah (Daniel 9:25); Holy One (Psalm 16:10); The Beloved Son of God (St. Matthew 3:17); Son of the Most High (St. Mark 5:7); God's Holy Child Jesus (Acts 4:27); The Lamb of God (St. John 1:29)  As you can see, all of these various names designate and symbolize the greatness of Our Risen Saviour.  Each title / designation helps to describe a particular attribute of Our Blessed Saviour.

Again, Our Lord's Name is important because the Name itself designates Who He is.  "And she shall call His Name Jesus for He shall save His people from their sins." (St. Matthew 1:21)  Even in its' roots, the Name Jesus means "Saviour" and "God Our Help."  We know that each time we speak this Precious Name, we are acknowledging Our Blessed Saviour for Who He is and What He is:  Our Saviour . . . Our Messiah . . . the One Who Saves . . . God Our Help!  Each and every time we speak this Holy Name, we are acknowledging the greatness of Our God.

"At the Name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in Heaven and on earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord . . ." (Philippians 2:10-11)  We owe our Lord respect and honor.  We owe Him our loyalty.  We owe Him our love.  We owe Him these things because there is no-one like Him in the whole world.  "Neither is there salvation in any other (name): for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."  (Acts 4:12)  It is the Name Jesus that means so much  . . .  it is the Name Jesus that means Salvation . . . it is the Name Jesus that is owed more respect than to anyone or anything else in the world.  As great as St. Mary, and St. Joseph, and St. Peter, and all of the early disciples and saints, as great as they were, as we just heard,  . . there is no salvation in any other name! . . ."  Just the Name of Jesus!

"O give thanks to the Lord: call upon His Name; make known His deeds among the people." (Psalm 105:1)

And remember, as well, that our names mean something also.  We remember that our names are important as well.  Our Lord speaking to the Disciples stated:  " . . . rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in Heaven." (St. Luke 10:20)  Never forget that our names are written in Heaven!  Our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life!  Our names are written down by God.   Thus, let us never forget that we have a name to live up to as well.  We have been designated with a very special name:  the name of Christian, followers of Christ.  As such,  our name is written down in Heaven.  Let us do what we can now to live up to that name!

Please visit the St. Margaret Anglican Church website where you can learn more about our parish, find out how to visit us in person, and find out the latest news.  Click on the following link:

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Holy Name of Jesus

Always keep holy the Holy Name of Jesus!!!!

The Collect for the beginning of Mass for the Seventh Sunday after Trinity goes as follows:  "LORD of all power and might, who art the author and giver of all good things; Graft in our hearts the love of thy Name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of thy great mercy keep us in the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. "  As we hear in the Collect, we are asking the Lord to graft in our hearts the love of His Holy Name.  The Holy Name of Jesus is indeed a name that we should always cherish in our hearts.  St. Matthew reminds us:  "And she shall call His Name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins."  (St. Matthew 1:21)  Indeed, in its' origin, this name means "God is our help" or "saviour."  Indeed, Jesus is our help.  He is most certainly Our Saviour.  We should keep His Name always on our lips and in our hearts.  "At the Name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father Jesus Christ is Lord!" (Phil 2:10-11)


 So often, we take this Blessed Name for granted.  So often, in movies and television, we hear this Precious Name mentioned but it is not in the context of prayer or praise.  Rather, it is uttered with the utmost form of disrespect.  Sadly, the custom of bowing one's head at the hearing of the Holy Name of Jesus has gone out of style in so many of the churches.  But in our Anglican church, we still bow our head when we hear the Name Jesus.  "Graft in our hearts the love of Thy Name . . . . "

Please join us for Mass on Sunday, July 14th, 2013.  Mass begins at 9:30 AM.  St. Margaret worships at the Chapel at Marquette Manor, which is located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest Side of Indianapolis.  Hear the Word of God preached; listen to His Word from the King James Bible; we use the 1928 Book of Common prayer and the Anglican Missal; receive Our Blessed Lord in Holy Communion; and join us for delicious goodies in our Coffee Hour following Mass.

Please visit the St. Margaret of Scotland Anglican Church website for more information about joining us for Sunday Mass and information about our parish:

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Sixth Sunday after Trinity, Sunday, July 7, 2013

Sixth Sunday after Trinity, Sunday, July 7, 2013

Fr. Todd Bragg

St. Margaret Anglican Church

Indianapolis, Indiana

"First be reconciled with your brother and then come and offer thy gift." (St. Matthew 5:20 ff)

I don't watch much TV but when I do, I notice the commercials that have the "fine print."  You know what I'm talking about, I'm quite sure.   Car commercials have that "fine print" there at the end and also the commercials for the new medications, they're famous for trying to fit in the "fine print" there at the end as well.  They do this in order for them to safely say that they told you everything even though they either speak so fast that you can't understand them or that the print is so small that you can't really read it anyway.  

Now, Christianity has "fine print" as well.  Look at today's Gospel passage as well from St. Matthew.  Right from the beginning, we hear Our Blessed Lord telling the disciples:  "Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." (St. Matthew 5:20).   Now, don't get me wrong, Salvation is freely offered by God, so don't go and report me to the bishop when he is here next month.  But we shouldn't really be surprised about the "fine print."  

Can you think of another example where there is "fine print"?  Think hard.  OK, how about the Our Father.  In the Our Father, we pray the following " . ..  and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us . . ."  Now, for those of us who have prayed the Our Father thousands of times over the course of our lifetime, it is entirely understandable that we pass over that very small two-letter word "A-S" when we pray that prayer.  But that small word "as" when you think about it is very important.  That small word "as" has really huge implications when you think about it.  In St. Matthew's Gospel, we hear the following:  " . . . and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors . .. ."  (St. Matthew 6:12)  In other words, this small word "as" becomes a qualifier.  We are praying to God to be forgiven  AS we forgive others.  Thus, when you look at it in that sense, if we are not willing to forgive others who have committed wrongs against us, we really can not, in all fairness, expect God to forgive us.

In fact, to show how seriously Our Lord considered this fact, if you look at when Our Lord taught the Disciples the Lord's Prayer, immediately after He was finished praying, He stated:  "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses." (St. Matthew 6:14-15)  It really doesn't get more clear-cut than that.  Our Lord is cutting straight to the point:  Our Heavenly Father will forgive us . . . .  but we have to be willing to forgive others as well.  That is the "catch," if you will.  That's the "fine print" to this forgiveness business, so to speak.

Now, think back to last week when we were talking about St. Peter.  We stated that St. Peter was a wonderful, faithful Apostle but we also know that St. Peter's mouth got him in a lot of trouble sometimes.  For example, remember the story where Our Blessed Lord was spending time when the Disciples and they were speaking about forgiveness and St. Peter thought that he would impress Our Lord when he responded that we should forgive "seven times."  And Our Lord immediately responded that we should forgive "seventy times seven times."  Then after that, He told the story of the servant who owed the king 100,000 Talents and this servant knew that there was no way that he could ever re-pay this huge amount and he went and ask the king for forgiveness and the king took pity and forgave the whole debt.  Then this very same servant who had just been forgiven this huge, massive debt, when he saw a fellow servant that owed him a very small amount in comparison, this servant demanded him to be thrown into prison until he paid back the debt.  Thus, the servant who was forgiven much did not himself show much forgiveness.  

After Our Lord had spoke this parable, He stated:  "So likewise shall My Heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses." (St. Matthew 18:35)

We are told in the Good Book that we are made in the image and likeness of God.  We know that God is not physical in the sense that human beings are, so logically speaking, we can only infer that being in God's likeness comes about through the way in which we show love and show forgiveness to those around us.

St. Luke tells us the following:  "Be ye therefore merciful as your Father is merciful.  Judge not, and ye shall not be judged.  Condemn and ye shall not be condemned.  Forgive and ye shall be forgiven.  Give and it shall be given unto you . . .  For with the same measure that ye mete withal shall it be measured to you again."  (St. Luke 6:36-38)   Again, Our Lord gets straight to the point:  don't expect a cup full of forgiveness from God, if you yourself only give a thimble full to your brothers and sisters.  In other words, we will be given from God what we have first given to others.  

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Open the door of your Heart!!!

He is Knocking on the Door of Your Heart!

We all like images . . .  well, I know that I certainly do  . . . . because images can be very useful in putting across the point that you are trying to make.  How does that old saying go?  "A picture is worth a thousand words . . . ."  Thus, over the years I have made somewhat frequent references to a famous painting of Our Blessed Saviour knocking on the door in a garden.

In fact, we had a copy of the portrait of Christ knocking at the Door of our old church when we were located on College Avenue.  This came about because one of my grandchildren brought me the copy of the picture, proudly saying to me:  "This is the picture that you are always talking about when you preach! We found it in Goodwill!"  You see, sometimes people do pay attention to my sermons and actually hear what I'm saying!  But I digress . . . .

There have been several renditions of this painting over the years:

All of the pictures above are very nice, each in their own way.  The following picture, though, is certainly the most famous, in my humble opinion, and the one which is most widely known:

This is really the image that I specifically make reference to in my sermon.  The picture itself is very nice but what I make specific mention of is the fact that if you look closely you will soon notice that there is no door handle or door knob on the door.  In other words, Our Blessed Lord is knocking but He can not open the door without YOU opening it from the other side.  Certainly, this is a good reminder that God is also knocking as well.  He is not knocking on the door of our home but He is knocking on the "door" of our heart.  He is knocking to be let in .  . . . . but just like in the portrayal above . . . . He can not open it Himself . . .  we have to let Him in.  I heard a long time ago that Our Lord is a gentleman in the truest sense of the word; He will not barge in, He will not intrude into our lives, He will not barge in, unannounced.  Rather, He is very polite and will wait for an invitation.   Certainly, Our Blessed Saviour wants to be a part of our life but He will not force Himself on us.  He is waiting for us to invite Him in.  He is waiting for us to open the door to Him!