Prodigal Son

Luke 15:11-32 is the story of the Prodigal Son. In verse 17 its says, "He came to himself." What do you think this means? Can you name a time when you came to yourself? Who helped, what were the circumstances? Did the Father/Mother accept you?
Peace,
Philip

St. Patrick

For the life of me, I've never been able to figure out how St. Patrick's Day = green beer. But on Saturday, March 17 we remember the saint who was a missionary to Ireland. In honor of St. Patrick's Day, here is a literal translation of St. Patrick's Breastplate which I'm sure you've seen before:

    I arise today
   Through a mighty strength,
   the invocation of the Trinity,
   Through belief in the threeness,
   Through confession of the oneness
   Of the Creator of Creation.

   I arise today
   Through the strength of
   Christ's birth with His baptism,
   Through the strength of
   His crucifixion with His burial,
   Through the strength of

   His resurrection with His ascension,
   Through the strength of
   His descent for the judgment of Doom.

   I arise today
   Through the strength of
   the love of the Cherubim,
   In the obedience of angels,
   In the service of archangels,
   In the hope of the resurrection
   to meet with reward,
   In the prayers of patriarchs,
   In prediction of prophets,
   In preaching of apostles,
   In faith of confessors,
   In innocence of holy virgins,
   In deeds of righteous men.

   I arise today
   Through the strength of heaven;
   Light of sun,
   Radiance of moon,
   Splendour of fire,
   Speed of lightning,
   Swiftness of wind,
   Depth of sea,
   Stability of earth,
   Firmness of rock.

   I arise today
   Through God's strength to pilot me:
   God's might to uphold me,
   God's wisdom to guide me,
   God's eye to look before me,
   God's ear to hear me,
   God's word to speak to me,
   God's hand to guard me,
   God's way to lie before me,
   God's shield to protect me,
   God's host to save me,

   From snares of devils,
   From temptation of vices,
   From every one who shall wish me ill,
   Afar and anear,
   Alone and in a multitude.
   I summon today all these powers
   between me and those evils,

   Against every cruel merciless
   power that may oppose my body
        and soul,
   Against incantations of false prophets,
   Against black laws of pagandom,
   Against false laws of heretics,
   Against craft of idolatry,
   Against spells of women and
   smiths and wizards,
   Against every knowledge
   that corrupts man's body and soul.

   Christ to shield me today
   Against poising, against burning,
   Against drowning, against wounding,
   So there come to me
   abundance of reward.

   Christ with me, Christ before me,
   Christ behind me,
   Christ in me, Christ beneath me,
   Christ above me,
   Christ on my right,
   Christ on my left,
   Christ when I lie down,
   Christ when I sit down,
   Christ when I arise,
   Christ in the heart of
   every man who thinks of me,
   Christ in the mouth of
   every one who speaks of me,
   Christ in the eye of
   every one who sees me,
   Christ in every ear
   that hears me.

   I arise today
   Through a mighty strength,
   the invocation of the Trinity,
   Through belief in the threeness,
   Through confession of the oneness
   Of the Creator of Creation.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

St. Polycarp

Matthew 20:20-23

The mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favor of him. And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom." But Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?" They said to him, "We are able." He said to them, "You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father."

---

I can just imagine the mother of the sons of Zebedee wanting the best for her kids. Wanting them to succeed in life, just as any parent would, and asking this request of Jesus -- that her sons would sit beside Jesus. Imagine her surprise when Jesus responds that they will have to be willing to suffer with him in order to receive such a great reward.

This is the appointed Gospel for the Feast of St. Polycarp whom the Church remembers today. Polycarp presided over the Church at a time of great tumult when Christians were fighting heresies left and right as well as persecution. Polycarp ultimately was faced with a choice: curse Christ or die.

The setting was the amphitheater in Smyrna. The proconsul asked him to curse Christ to which Polycarp responded, "Eighty-six years I have served him, and he never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?” The account reports that the magistrate was reluctant to kill the gentle and harmless old man, but his hand was forced by the mob, who clamored that he be thrown to wild beasts.

Polycarp was burned at the stake. Before his ordeal, he is reported to have looked up to heaven and prayed, “Lord God Almighty, Father of your beloved and blessed child Jesus Christ, through whom we have received knowledge of you, God of angels and hosts and all creation, and of the whole race of the upright who live in your presence, I bless you that you have thought me worthy of this day and hour, to be numbered among the martyrs and share in the cup of Christ, for resurrection to eternal life, for soul and body in the incorruptibility of the Holy Spirit. Among them may I be accepted before you today, as a rich and acceptable sacrifice just as you, the faithful and true God, have prepared and foreshown and brought about. For this reason and for all things I praise you, I bless you, I glorify you, through the eternal heavenly high priest Jesus Christ, your beloved child, through whom be glory to you, with him and the Holy Spirit, now and for the ages to come. Amen.”

If you were stuck in the same situation, what would you do? Curse Christ or die for your faith? It's a question worth contemplating during Lent as we prepare our hearts and minds for Easter.

St. Polycarp pray for us now and always.