The Gift of Stewardship

/0 Comments/in ,

Armodoxy for Today: Gift of Stewardship

This is the week of the Steward.  We’re focusing on the Parable offered by Jesus as recorded in the 16th chapter of the Gospel of Luke. Jesus uses the metaphor to point to our responsibility in life. We continue on the themes we presented over the last several days.

By using the metaphor of stewardship, Jesus makes it very clear that we are accountable for our life. One day, like the manager or steward, we will be asked to produce a record, an accountability of our stewardship. What did we do with what God has given us? Did God give us talents? Did He give us an ability? Did He give us a smile? Did He give us a heartbeat and a breath? What did we do with that gift? What did we do with our lives?

Imagine giving a gift to a friend or a loved one. Wouldn’t you like to know that your friend enjoyed that gift? At some point wouldn’t you like to ask, “What did you do with that gift that I gave you? Did you enjoy it?” And certainly, how hurt you would be if that person had taken your gift and stored it in a closet or worse yet, just thrown it in the trash and never once paid attention to it. Likewise, God wants to know that the gift He has given us, that most valuable commodity – the breath that we breath, the heart that beats, the smile that comes from our hearts – is being used, and is being used wisely. Ultimately, is it being used to spread love of God to others. That is the demand put upon us as stewards of God’s gifts. We are stewards of our lives. We are responsible for the talents that are given to us, to share them, use them, and to give an account of How? Where? And What did we do with all that God has given us?

Among the seven deadly sins is a sin called “sloth” perhaps the one most misunderstood because it points to inactivity whereas the other sins require us to be active, to engage in the sin. This one sin is defined by just being lazy, by not doing something. Now think of that for a minute. Why would that be a sin? How can not doing something be a sin?

God has given you a gift. You do not have a right to store it in a closet. You do not have a right to take God’s gift and trash it. It is holy. It is sacred. That is what your life is. Every blessing, every moment that you have in your life is a sacred gift from God.

We will continue on this theme of stewardship as we continue on this week. For today, let us conclude with the prayer of St. Nerses Shnorhali:
Jesus, wisdom of the Father, grant me wisdom that I may always think, speak and do that which is good in your site. Save me from evil thoughts, words, and deeds. Have mercy upon all your creatures, and upon me, a great sinner. Amen. (I Confess with Faith 11/24)

The Example of the Squirrely Steward

/0 Comments/in ,

Armodoxy for Today: The Example of the Squirrely Steward

What has been referred to as the dishonest manager is the second character in a trilogy, like the prodigal son from last week and the unrighteous judge that we will look at next week. This character is far from the model you would expect in a religious story, and yet, Jesus uses him, he has the audacity to use him to teach us a lesson in life. It is a lesson in stewardship – managing the assets that we have in life.

Yesterday, we read the parable found in Luke chapter 16. It is confusing for the mere fact that this thief and cheat – the squirrely steward, as we referred to him  – is commended by the master. Jesus uses him to make a point

We live in a world that is filled with real challenges. Reality is not based on or built on fairy tales or myths. Unlike playtime, life is demanding. It asks for our resources, the most precious of which is our time and effort – blood, sweat and tears. The question then becomes, how do we deal with, approach and overcome those challenges?

Jesus tells us that the challenges of life are real. They are to be met and overcome. The resources to do so are in place and need to be used. In his words, we are called to use “worldly wealth” to network and deal with the people of this world. In other words, in this world we must use the tools that this world offers, that is the “legal tender” of this world. Don’t shun those tools by ascribing some definitions based on your moral compass. Don’t pretend that you exist in some other world that is apart from the one we inhabit. This world is very real. We need to use the means of this world to survive this world. What are those means? Our talents. The talents given to us by God.

During this Lenten season you were asked to take an inventory of the things that are essential and necessary for your life. Today the exercise is to inventory the gifts of God in your lives. What talents do we possess? How can we use them? How can we improve our own lives, as well as the lives of our families, friends and community by the use of those talents? God has given us the resources that we need to deal with life. He has given us the ability, the strength and the courage to move forward. He has given us breath! He has also endowed us with talents. Do you sing or play music? Are you able to craft something? Do you have reasoning and logical skills? Can you invest? Can you make money? Can you heal? Can you console? Can you walk in harmony with others? These are gifts from God.

Jesus says, “He who has been faithful in a little, will be trusted with much.” Take your talent and create! Invest it and make more, whatever your talent may be. Today is the day to examine those gifts you have. You are coming into a world that has so many problems and difficulties. It needs the presence of God today. Not yesterday and not tomorrow. Today. And as an ambassador of God, that is, an ambassador of Love, you now have a responsibility to use your talents wisely to bring the presence of God into your own life as well as the lives of the people around you – your family, friends and ultimately, the world. Furthermore, you do not have a right to ignore your gifts and talents. You are the manager of your life. You must use what has been given you.

In the next few days we will be looking at the models of stewardship.

Let us conclude with the prayer of St. Nersess Shnorhali:
Uncreated Essence, I have sinned against You in mind, soul and body; do not remember my former sins for the sake of Your Holy name. Have mercy upon Your Creatures and upon me, a great sinner. (I Confess with Faith 6/24)

Back to Reality: Stewardship

/0 Comments/in ,

Armodoxy for Today: Back to Reality

We are over halfway through the Lenten season. We climbed up the hill and we are now at the summit, coming down. We look down from the summit and see two paths, one behind us and even more importantly, the path in front of us. It is this path that connects to a larger road which is the journey of life. All that we are discovering during this Lenten period is part of the self-improvement process which fortifies our position in life by granting us the tools to better meet the challenges of life, be they physical, emotional or spiritual. God gives us the tools to handle the complexities of life and to render the journey a simple one.

As we come down off of the mountain, we enter a world that is very real. It is a world filled with difficulties and challenges, but at the same time, it has many victories. It has many moments for us to rejoice and many more to enjoy. Life is very real! How appropriate, that today, at this half-way mark in Lent, the Armenian Church prescribes the Parable of the Dishonest Steward as its Lenten lesson. This lesson, found in Luke chapter 16, connects us to the reality of life.

The Parable of the Dishonest Steward is given to us by our Lord Jesus. We read that there was a steward, that is, a manager. He was charged with taking care of his boss’ assets and money. Jesus refers to him as a shrewd, and even “dishonest” manager. He gets caught red handed in some business shenanigans and is on the verge of being fired. He acts shrewdly and doubles down by doing even more dishonest deeds against his employer thereby making friends for himself, especially considering his impending unemployment, this was a tactical preemptive move. He is calculated and knows that when he gets fired, these new friends will hire him. Then comes the kicker…  Jesus brings it down to this, “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.”

Your act of charity is simple, read the Parable of the Dishonest Steward in its entirety. We will take a dive into this story which leaves many people perplexed because the “hero” is a squirrely character. Fast today from making any judgment calls, on the people in the story as well as in life.

Celebrate the half-way mark of Lent with some Lenten Cookies, the recipe is below.

We pray, Lord, I thank you for entrusting me with my life and the world in which I live. Help me to become a better steward of my life and my world. Amen

Announcing: The Jim Kaplan $100,000 Challenge!

/0 Comments/in

Announcing: The Jim Kaplan $100,000 Challenge!

We are pleased to announce a matching gift program of $100,000 initiated by Jim Kaplan to further the goals and mission of Epostle. A dedicated member of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Mr. Kaplan firmly believes in the bright new frontiers that are being pioneered by Epostle’s vision and work.  He has generously allocated $100,000 in support of Epostle.

Every dollar donated to Epostle will be matched up to $100,000 by the donor.

Epostle is the electronic ministry of the Western Diocese. Since its formation in 2022, Epostle has evangelized Christ for the Armenian Church, bringing a fresh new voice for the digital age with videos, daily podcasts and the exploration of spiritual sites through its metaverse experiences.

We thank Mr. Kaplan for his generosity and for sharing our vision. We invite you to do the same.

This is more than a fundraiser; this is about participating in the next chapter of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Visit Epostle.net today to explore all that is there. Sign up for the newsletter and participate in the $100,000 challenge.

This means that every dollar given will be matched dollar for dollar doubling the impact of your generosity.

Double my impact today! Click here.

Why Not Me?

/0 Comments/in ,

Armodoxy for Today: Why not me?

We conclude this week of diving into the parable of the prodigal son (Luke chapter 15) by looking at the third character in the story, namely, the older brother of the three characters, probably the older son is the one with whom we can best identify, perhaps because, well, basically, he is a good guy, at least he says he is. He’s a friendly guy. He is the one who did the right thing and stayed faithful. He stayed home and did not squander the money that his father had given him. He was loyal. He was obedient. Mostly we see him, the man who, like all of us, recognizes the unfairness of life. There was an injustice that was being played out right in front of him, because the younger brother came home, there was a celebration. It was almost as if he was being rewarded for his breach of discipline.

The older brother asks, why not me? Why is it that good things happen to bad people? Why are the actions of bad people rewarded while good actions, case in point me, go unnoticed. There are many examples of unfairness in our lives. Often we see people who seemingly do not deserve to be rewarded, yet they are honored with privileges and rewards. Why not me? It’s only a natural question to follow this inequity. Not only is it natural, it’s logical. If we believe good should be rewarded, I’ve done right. I’m the good guy. Sure, I have faults, but basically, I’m a good person. Why isn’t my goodness being rewarded?

The father in the story gives a simple answer. His is an answer that comes from the vantage point of parenthood. Son, he says, I have always had you. Whatever I have is already yours. But this my son, your younger brother, was lost, and now he is found. He was dead, and now he is alive. And in so saying, the Father is asking his son to see the bigger picture. It’s not about this moment, but there is a bigger project, so to speak. Ultimately, God’s aim is to have us all in reconciliation with all of creation. It’s about a state of love and harmony so that everyone has access to the kingdom.

Now let’s push this a little further and challenge ourselves, because after all, there is true injustice in the world. But as the Lenten season unfolds, we’re understanding that the real problem is with our perception of the goal – of the prize. We’re looking at those excesses and material goods as the prize, and we lose sight of the true treasure that is already part of life. The proof? Take a deep breath right now. Can you feel it entering your lungs? That’s a gift from God on which you cannot place a price tag. Do you love someone? Someone you can look to a child, a parent, a husband, a wife, a boyfriend, a girlfriend, that is a gift. Do you have this ability to smile? Do you have the ability to look at a flower, at the trees, at the mountains, at the sea, and stand in awe for a second or two and realize that there is something far greater than material goods that we consume ourselves with. That’s the gift, and that is a gift that has been given to you by God. He says, don’t abuse it. Don’t be like the prodigal. Don’t squander what I have given you, and now don’t look for more. Anything more is excess.

God has placed love in your heart, and it’s up to us to use it, not abuse it. It’s up to us to share it with ones we love, with our family, our community, and with our world.

Today we end with this prayer from St. Nerses Shnorhali, O merciful Lord, have mercy on all your faithful, on those who are mine and those who are strangers, on those whom I know and on those whom I do not know. On the living and on the dead. Forgive all my enemies and those who hate me the trespasses they have committed against me. Turn them from the malice they bear toward me that they may be worthy of your mercy. Have mercy upon all your creatures and upon me a sinner, amen.

I Confess with Faith – Shnorhali

/0 Comments/in
I Confess with Faith The prayers of St. Nersess Shnorhali (the Gracefilled)

1) I confess with faith and adore You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, uncreated and immortal essence, creator of
angels, of humans, and of all that exists. Have mercy upon Your Creatures and upon me, a great sinner.

2) I confess with faith and adore You, O Light indivisible, simultaneous Holy Trinity and one Godhead, creator
of light and dispeller of darkness. Dispel from my soul the darkness of sin and ignorance, and at this hour
enlighten my mind, that I may pray to You according to Your will, and receive from You the fulfillment of
my supplications. Have mercy upon Your Creatures and upon me, a great sinner.

3) Heavenly Father, true God, who sent Your beloved Son to seek the wandering sheep, I have sinned against
heaven and before You; receive me like the Prodigal Son, and clothe me with the garment of innocence, of
which I was deprived by sin. Have mercy upon Your Creatures and upon me, a great sinner.

4) Son of God, true God, who descended from the bosom of the Father, and took flesh of the Holy Virgin Mary
for our salvation, who was crucified and buried, and rose from the dead, and ascended to the Father, I have
sinned against Heaven and before You; remember me like the robber, when You come in Your kingdom.
Have mercy upon Your Creatures and upon me, a great sinner.

5) Spirit of God, true God, who descended into the Jordan and into the upper chamber, and who enlightened
me by baptism in the holy font, I have sinned against Heaven and before You; cleanse me Your divine fire as
You purified the holy Apostles with fiery tongues. Have mercy upon Your Creatures and upon me, a great
sinner.

6) Uncreated Essence, I have sinned against You in mind, soul and body; do not remember my former sins for
the sake of Your Holy name. Have mercy upon Your Creatures and upon me, a great sinner.

7) Beholder of all, I have sinned against You, in thought, word and deed; erase the record of my offences, and
write my name in the Book of Life. Have mercy upon Your Creatures and upon me, a great sinner.

8) Searcher of secrets, I have sinned against You willing and unwillingly, knowingly and unknowingly, grant
me —a great sinner— forgiveness, for since I was born of the holy font until this day I have sinned before
You, by my senses, and by all the members of my body. Have mercy upon Your Creatures and upon me, a
great sinner.

9) All provident Lord, place Your holy fear as a guard before my eyes so they may not look lustfully; before my
ears so that they may not delight in hearing evil words; before my mouth so that it may not speak any
falsehoods; before my heart so that it may not think evil; before my hands so that they may not do injustice;
before my feet, that they may not walk in the paths of injustice; but so direct them, that they may always be
according to all Your commandments. Have mercy upon Your Creatures and upon me, a great sinner.

10) O Christ, who are the Living Fire, inflame my soul with the fire of Your love, which You did send forth upon
the earth, that it may burn the stains of my soul, sanctify my conscience, purge the sins of my body, and
kindle in my heart the light of Your knowledge. Have mercy upon Your Creatures and upon me, a great
sinner.

11) O Jesus, wisdom of the Father, grant me wisdom, that I may always think, speak, and do that which is good
in Your sight; save me from evil thoughts, words and deeds. Have mercy upon Your Creatures and upon me,
a great sinner.

12) O Lord, who wills that which is good, and are the director of the will, let me not follow the inclinations of
my heart, but lead me to live always according to Your good will. Have mercy upon Your Creatures and
upon me, a great sinner.

13) Heavenly King, grant me Your kingdom, which You have promised to Your beloved; strengthen my heart to
hate sin, and to love You alone, and to do Your will. Have mercy upon Your Creatures and upon me, a great
sinner.

14) Protector of Your creatures, by the sign of Your cross keep my soul and body from the allurements of sin,
from the temptations of the devil and unjust people, and from all perils of soul and body. Have mercy upon
Your Creatures and upon me, a great sinner.

15) O Christ, the guardian of all, let Your Right Hand guard and shelter me by day and by night, while at home
and while away, while sleeping and while awake, that I may never fall. Have mercy upon Your Creatures
and upon me, a great sinner.

16) O my God, who opens Your hand and fills all things living with Your bounty, to You I commit my soul; do
care for me and provide for the needs of my body and soul forever. Have mercy upon Your Creatures and
upon me, a great sinner.

17) You who bring back the wanderers, turn me from my evil ways to good ones and imprint upon my soul the
recollection of the dreadful day of death, the fear of hell and the love of Your Kingdom that I may repent of
my sins and do righteousness. Have mercy upon Your Creatures and upon me, a great sinner.

18) Fountain of immortality, make the tears of repentance flow from my heart, like those of the adulteress, that
I may wash away the sins of my soul before I depart from this world. Have mercy upon Your Creatures and
upon me, a great sinner.

19) Bestower of mercy, grant that I may come to You with true faith, with good works and by the communion
of Your Holy Body and Blood. Have mercy upon Your Creatures and upon me, a great sinner.

20) Beneficent Lord, commit me to a good angel, that I may deliver up my spirit in peace; convey it undisturbed
by the malice of evil spirits that are under the heavens. Have mercy upon Your Creatures and upon me, a
great sinner.

21) O Christ, True Light, make my soul worthy to behold with joy the light of Your glory, in that day when You
call me and to rest in the hope of good things in the mansions of the just until the day of Your glorious
coming. Have mercy upon Your Creatures and upon me, a great sinner.

22) Righteous Judge, when You come in the glory of the Father to judge the living and the dead, enter not into
judgement with Your servant, but deliver me from the eternal fire, and make me worthy to hear the blissful
call of the just to Your heavenly kingdom. Have mercy upon Your Creatures and upon me, a great sinner.

23) All-merciful Lord, have mercy upon all Your faithful, on those who are mine and on those who are
strangers; on those whom I know and on those whom I know not; on the living and on the dead; and
forgive all my enemies, and those who hate me, the trespasses that they have committed against me; turn
them from the malice which they bear towards me, that they may be worthy of Your mercy. Have mercy
upon Your Creatures and upon me, a great sinner.

24) Glorified Lord, accept the supplications of Your servant, and graciously fulfill my petitions, through the
intercession of the Holy Mother of God, John the Baptist, the first martyr St. Stephen, St. Gregory our
Illuminator, the Holy Apostles, Prophets, Divines, Martyrs, Patriarchs, Hermits, Virgins and all Your saints
in Heaven and on Earth. And unto You, O indivisible Holy Trinity, be glory and worship forever and ever.

Amen

Reclaim 2026 – Monasticism – Spirits Uplifted

/0 Comments/in

Reclaim Conference 2026: Reclaiming Monasticism

The tenth annual Reclaim Conference was held March 6–8 at St. Mary Armenian Church in Yettem, California, under the auspices of Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate. This year’s theme, “Reclaiming Monasticism,” invited participants to rediscover how the spiritual wisdom of the monastic tradition can enrich and guide our daily Christian lives.

Inspiring presentations were offered by Fr. Vazken Movsesian, Fr. Avedis Abovian, Bishop Daniel Findikyan, Dr. Hratch Tchilingirian, Fr. Mesrob Ash, Gregory Beylerian, and Mr. David Menedian. Their talks explored themes such as reclaiming faith, the importance of spiritual retreat, building the Body of Christ, finding sacred silence in a noisy world, and cultivating a structured spiritual life through everyday monastic practices.

A central message of the conference was that monasticism is not simply about life behind monastery walls. In the Armenian Church, monasteries have long served as vibrant centers of prayer, learning, and service—places where the spiritual life of the Church was nurtured and shared with the wider community.

Participants were also introduced to several valuable spiritual resources, including Epostle.net a digital portal of the Armenian Church Western Diocese with resources focused on education, outreach, and heritage preservation., the 2Bishops YouTube series featuring Bishops Daniel Findikyan and Vahan Hovhanessian, and the Fast and Pray app, which helps support a meaningful personal practice of fasting and prayer.

In reflecting on the Conference and on this occasion, Fr. Vazken thanked everyone and announced that a special matching fund in the amound of $100,000 was set up by Jim Kaplan to further the work of Epostle. Donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar. More will be shared in the coming weeks about this generous gesture.

In Reclaim tradition, the Agape meal gave everyone an opportunity to share their thoughts and joys with one another along with the unique “handwashing” service. On this occasion Chuck Simonian, who designed and built the Yettem Cross which stands as a gateway to the church, presented miniature versions of the cross to Abp. Hovnan, Bp. Daniel and Fr. Vazken as a reminder of this very special place in the heart and soul of the Armenian community.

The conference came to an end with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. His Grace, Bishop Daniel Findikyan offered the homily at the invitation of His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian.

Appreciation is extended to all the presenters, attendees, the St. Mary parish priest, parish council and ladies society and to the Circle of Faith and Circle of Love Bible Study group for their help and support.

The conference sessions were recorded and will be made available soon at https://epostle.net/reclaim2026.

RECLAIM 2026 is now History!

Videos from Reclaim will be available shortly

       

10th Annual Reclaim Conference: “Reclaim Monasticism”

March 6,7,8, 2026

Under the auspices of

Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate

at the St. Mary Armenian Church, Yettem California

Bishop Daniel Findikyan, Keynote Speaker

Fr. Vazken Movsesian, Fr. Avedis Abovian
Fr. Mesrop Ash, Dr. Hratch Tchilingirian
Special Yettem Presentation by David Menendian

Father and Example

/0 Comments/in ,

Armodoxy for Today: Father and Example

We continue our dive into the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke chapter 15) by focusing on the father in the story.

The first thing we learn about him is that he gives completely, without restriction or condition. His younger son says, “Give me my inheritance so I can go out and establish and begin my life.” The father, being a wise man, certainly understands that the son may lose or squander the money, but does not argue with his child. There are times in our lives when we need to let go. Even though we may know better than our children, their life is theirs. Yes, making mistakes can be painful, but it is in those mistakes that children learn. This father understand this rule: he lets go of his son. As difficult as it is, he allows his son – the one that he loves – to leave. He allows his son to establish his own life.

The second time we see the father is when the son returns. Remember the son is remorseful, or at the very least he understands that he can have a better life by returning to his father’s house. No matter what the son’s intentions may be, the father seeing the son return goes out to meet him on the road and does not even allow his son to ask forgiveness. He does not play a game of pride. He does not foolishly say, “Let me wait and see what he has to say.” He is there to accept his son. He does not say, “I told you so. I knew you would be back.”  Instead he recognizes his loved one – the son that he cared for, gave birth to and nurtured – had now returned! How excited he must have been. Of course he came running up to his son and embraced him.

Now there are two dimensions to this. Let’s follow each of them. First, the father in the parable is an expression of our Heavenly Father. God in heaven waits for us to come home and when we do turn back, He does not wait for us to beg to return to His Kingdom. Suffice it that we turn back home that He approaches us, embracing and grabbing us, He takes us in, giving us Life! That’s what this father did and that’s what our Heavenly Father does.

God accepts us as true children of His Kingdom.

Second, the father’s actions tell us what is required of us in our relationships, not necessarily with children, but with one another. There are people who have hurt us. The degrees of hurt are not consequential. Perhaps we have cried over a misspoken word, or we have been devastated by betrayal. The hurt has left a chasm in our relationships with others. We have all created divisions between ourselves and God by virtue of our actions or inaction,  yet God has given us a way back. We too must do the same and leave doors open for those people to return back to us. In other words, an end to grudges is in order. Don’t get caught up in foolish pride. Leave doors open without expecting someone to walk through. Don’t wait for those who have hurt you to return, just know that deep down there are many desires that may not be understood. If the door is open, they may return and when they do you will embrace them.

Know that the heart is speaking to you. Do not think with your mind. Be ready to take in.Be ready to embrace, to hug, to suffocate them with the love that is in your heart.This is the example that Jesus gives us through the character of the father.

We now pray there prayer of St. Nerses Shnorhali, from the “I Confess with Faith”:

I confess with faith and adore you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, uncreated and immortal essence, creator of angels, of humans and all that exists. Have mercy upon your creatures and upon me, a great sinner. (1/24)

Awake to the Turning Point

/0 Comments/in ,

Armodoxy for Today: The Turning Point

The Prodigal Son, is a parable offered to us by Jesus and recorded in the Gospel of St. Luke, chapter 15. We continue this dive into the story today by looking at the sin of the Prodigal son.

Today we look at turning points. As the parable is presented, the younger son takes his inheritance and travels to a far off land. There he squanders his money in reckless living. When his money runs out, so do his friends, and the lifestyle he was living. He comes to his senses and decides to return home. We will call this the turning point. It’s the point at which he realized there is something better for him elsewhere. Some may call this the “wake up” moment, when all along you knew what you were doing was not reality – maybe even a dream – and then the alarm clock rings and you wake to real life. The Prodigal Son woke up and turned back home.

Like the Prodigal, we come to our turning points when we realize that staying on the current path might have dire consequences. Repentance is the call of the Church to turn back. John the Baptist called out in the wilderness, “Repent, the Kingdom of God is at hand.” Today, the word repent means to feel remorse or regret. These feelings are the wake-up moment, while repent literally means to turn around.

Look within. Do you have wake up alarms? Do they guide you toward repentance?

We prayer from St. Nersess Shnorhali’s 3rd hour, Heavenly Father, true God, who sent Your beloved Son to seek the wandering sheep. I have sinned against heaven and before you. Receive me like Prodigal Son and clothe me with the garment of innocence, of which I was deprived by with sin. Have mercy upon your creatures and upon me a sinner. Amen 

Sin in Motivation

/0 Comments/in ,

Armodoxy for Today: Finding the Sin in Motivation

The Prodigal Son, a parable offered to us by Jesus and recorded in the Gospel of St. Luke, chapter 15. We continue this dive into the story today by looking at the sin of the Prodigal son.

The prodigal lifestyle that the younger son adopted is usually thought of as his sin, if not, but only by the popular name of the parable. The word prodigal is characterized by profuse or wasteful spending. The word describes someone who is addicted to wasteful expenditure, as of money, time, energy or strength. I propose that these are only manifestations of the true sin, which can be found in a list compiled by the Church, name Pride, Envy, Anger, Gluttony, Lust, Covetousness, and Laziness. Start off with the youthful pride that made him demand his share of inheritance, a pride which deceived him into thinking that he knew better than his father. And as you go through this list, which the Church identifies as “deadly sins” transfer the same measure on your life. Look at the motivations that make you do the things you do.

The Prodigal son was wasteful with the inheritance his father gave him. Think of the talents, the graces, the gifts given to us by God. How do we use them? How do we abuse them? Or perhaps, not even use them? Are we squandering the gifts of God on reckless living?

We pray, from the Armenian Church’s form of Confession, I have also sinned by the seven-fold transgressions of the deadly sins: by pride and all its forms, envy and all its forms, anger and all its forms, sloth and all its forms, covetousness and all its forms, gluttony and all its forms, and lust and all its forms; I have sinned against God. Lord have mercy.