The Three Bad Guys of Lent – “Key” Message on Prodigal
Parish Priest’s Message from the “Key” Newsletter – 4 March 2012
These next three Sundays of Lent are made unusual by the Armenian Church because they highlight characters that are not ordinarily associated with the church or with Christian living. In fact, they are plain and simply, bad character.
Today is called the Sunday of the Prodigal Son (Lk15), next Sunday is the Dishonest Steward (Lk 16) and the Sunday after is the Unrighteous Judge (Lk 17). Imagine that! Christ uses these immoral and horrendous characters to teach us about his Loving Truth!
Perhaps the greatest message we find in these stories is about the trans-forming power of God. That is, if we allow him, God can take each of us, with our faults and frailties and transform us. Christ turned the Prodigal Son, the Steward and the Judge into the heroes of the stories. He is the same Christ who took the words of condemnation “take and eat ” (of the forbidden fruit) and turned them into the words of salvation, “take and eat, this is my body.”
Our Church Fathers designated this period of Lent for self-evaluation. With the messages we receive through our heightened prayer life, our scriptural readings and the Sundays of Lent, we have a golden opportunity to be transformed. Take advantage of this time. It’s an opportunity like no other for renewal and fulfillment in life. -Fr. Vazken
Hear Fr. Vazken’s “Prodigal” message at Youtube.com/armodoxy
The “Key” is the weekly newsletter of the St. Peter Armenian Church, Glendale, CA – Jesus asked the Disciples, “Who do YOU say that I am?” Peter responded “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus promised the Keys to the Kingdom for this profession of faith. (Mt 16) At the St. Peter, Glendale Parish, our faith and actions are based on that same profession of faith. It is the Key that opens the doors to our journey as Christians…
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