Calvin Synod Herald, 2009 (110. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2009-01-01 / 1-2. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD 9 participants of this parable (Father, son, and their relationship) we may gain new insights into Jesus’ teaching. According to the popular belief a “goodfather ’’is rich, loving, providing, protective, forgiving, and caring. The Prodigal Son happened to have such an ideal father, and we can really envy this young man for his luck and blame him for his silliness. But let us see: what do we find in the Prodigal Son’s father - beyond and above the popular belief? Let us consider: should God be the same as the one whom we create in our mind after the popular belief? And are we compelled to think according to the stereotype images? 1. The Prodigal Son’s father is permissive; he gives his son his share and lets him go away! Is unlimited freedom a blessing? 2. The Prodigal Son’s father does not go after his son and neither does he send anyone after him. Can we expect our Heavenly Father to do more for us than to give us our fair share and freedom we like? 3. The father’s name is not a guarantee against misfortune and/or cruel people. The famine began just as he had run out of money and nobody had compassion on this unfortunate young man. THE RENEWAL OF THE SON’S IMAGE. What do we teach to our children, how should they behave? They should be: obedient, humble, patient, respectful, cautious, modest and then daddy will love them. The Prodigal Son did not live up to the general rule and was not an ideal child, yet we can learn from him: 1. The hardship brought out the best from the runaway son: he was willing to work, to take a job that he previously considered to have been beneath his dignity. Furthermore, he did not turn against those people who were inconsiderate and did not treat him nicely. Finally, he came to his senses, realized the mistakes he made. In other words, he did not use the famine as the only reason of his tragedy! 2. After returning home he was willing to work himself up and not to continue where he left when he had run away. 3. He realized he is not the only one who should enjoy his father’s providence. The crucial points of the story of the Prodigal Son are not exclusively the father’s forgiveness and son’s repentance but also - the double realization about sin: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you . ..” THE RENEWAL OF OUR CONCEPT of GUILT. As we head into the New Year and consider the previous year’s events in terms of self-improvement and New Years’ Resolutions, let us not take the easy way of finding a scapegoat for every unpleasant experience of the past. Or interpret last year’s unpleasant events as just punishments for our sins. Or make easy promises that we will be better children of God during the coming year - so that He in turn will love us more and everything will be all right. As we head into the New Year, let us remember the story of the Prodigal Son. Let us remember that regardless of what kind of ‘wrong’ has been done in the past, regardless of where, how and by whom - it is always a sin against Heaven first of all. While we are culpable in our sin, let us also approach the New Year with the knowledge that like with the Prodigal Son, our Father in Heaven will rejoice when we and other sinners repent. When we repent - when we contemplate our past mistakes and recognize our sins - like the Prodigal Son, our Father in Heaven will celebrate and be glad. Then we too will be like the son, who was lost and is found, like the son who was dead and is alive again. My son, ’the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. (Luke 15:31-32) Rev. Alexander Jalso Celebrating 105 Years Why Our Church Succeeds When Many Others Go by the Wayside Our Church succeeds because while we are small in numbers, we are mighty in strength. This is evidenced by looking around on Sundays and seeing the small amount of people in church and the age of our members. In the job force today, how many people can say they held the same position for 30 and in some cases 40 years? Very few. Yet at our church we have people who have been doing the same jobs for close to 40 years. Homestead Congregation Celebrating their 105th Anniversary with their Pastor Rev. Alexander Jalso, and other Calvin Synod Pastors We are blessed today to have with us the first Female Elder to serve in our church. Do you know who she is? And would you believe she’s still on the Consistory almost 40 years later. She was an Elder, after which she rose through the ranks of Assistant Treasurer helping her late husband Charlie. Helen Shumaker (also known as the “War Department”) will tell you now that “I might not be able to work as much as I used to back then, but I’ll support you any other way possible.” Helen and Charlie commanded respect so much so, that Charlie was made an Honorary Hungarian by the Consistory many years ago - a fete not duplicated since. Then there’s our current Chief Elder who’s held every position Continued on page 10
