Woe to humanity
who has severely fallen
who "in the image and likeness
of God" they say
are disfigured, like the devil.
Woe to humanity!
They really do have fallen.
They go all out to war
to exploit and condemn all flaw
and all that's different between them.
Woe to humanity...
They have yet to preserve life
There is no peace
For they have yet to cease
the fire that has burnt us down.
Woe to humanity,
their prayers are in vain.
Salvation is but
the things of this world
and all they have yet to gain.
Woe to humanity
who has so much to offer.
And yet we have failed
and all the more,
fallen.
- Aaron J. Patrick
Wednesday, 9 November 2016
Wednesday, 2 November 2016
The Prodigal Son
Points:
- Once upon a time, there lived a wealthy farmer.
- Once upon a time, there lived a wealthy farmer.
- He had a family of two sons.
- They were living together merrily.
- Years went by, the younger son became restless as he was unhappy with his lot.
- He went to his father and requested for his share of the property.
- The father tried to dissuade and advise his son, but the son wouldn't
listen to his father whom he regarded as old and ignorant.
- Thus, the faher splitted the property into three parts and gave his son a third of it.
- The young and ignorant lad sold his share of the property and migrated to another country.
- He led a luxurious life and spent a lot of money on gambling.
- Unfortunately, he eventually became bankrupt and became a pauper.
My grandfather used to tell me these stories, of a wise man who would generously teach the crowds and share his wisdom. "It is pure philosophy", he said. "This teaches us how we should live". I asked Grandfather the way of how this wise man taught the crowds and he said, "through parables".
This is the parable of the Prodigal Son, of which was one of the many parables that was taught by that very wise man. Once upon a time, there lived a wealthy man. He owned a wide area of land and had farms all over, rich with cattle and sheep. With those, he had twenty servants, watching over his property and housekeeping. He also had two sons: one elder, and one younger. They lived together happily.
Years went by, and it seemed like the wealthy man grew old with age. The younger son became restless an was unhappy with what he had. So, he went up to his father to ask for his share of the property. The old, wealthy man tried to dissuade his son and tried to advise him to be patient but he wouldn't listen to his father whom he regarded as old and ignorant. Thus, the father splitted the property into three parts, and gave a third to his son.
This younger son, being young and naive, set out to sell off his share of the property and went on his way to another country. As soon as he reached there, he spent all his money on the pleasures that were to await him in that country. Partying, eating, drinking, gambling, brothels: he did them all. He lavished all his money on the things that could bring himself 'enjoyment', but little did he realise that he was just a young arrogant naive lad and that all of these things could not bring him content. When he did realise this, however, it was already too late. He became bankrupt. Broke. A pauper. His pockets weeping in emptiness as they were once so full.
Now this young boy questioned himself, "was this all worth it?" He slumped down into a corner in the street, full of regret. "I need more money", he thought. So he went to search for work. However, when he did find a job, he found that his employers did not pay him well, let alone feed him. Famine overcame the land in which he dwelled. "Maybe", he thought, "Maybe, if I go back to my father's house, and ask him to make me one of his servants there, at least I could get a decent meal. For I am no longer worthy to be called his son". Thus, he left, wandering back the path from which he came, to his father's house.
It took him almost a week to get across from country to country on foot, and a few more nights to reach his father's house, of which was once his original home. When he did get there, it was in the morning, and all of the wealthy man's servants would have already started working. As he approached the house, the young man saw his father standing at the front gate. His father approached him and greeted him with a loving embrace. "My son", he said. The young boy replied, "I am no longer worthy of being called your son, for I have sinned against heaven and against you. Please make me one of your servants instead". As he was saying this, his father had already called out to his servants, "Get the finest robe you can find! Kill the fattened calf and prepare it for my son has returned from the dead!"
Therefore, a great feast was held for the return of the wealthy man's son. The father dressed his son in his finest robe, put a ring on his finger, had the best meal prepared out of the calf that they had been fattening in their farms, and sang songs of rejoicing! However, as the elder son saw this, he was furious. "All this while I have been with you, worked and slaved myself for you but not once did you even give me a goat to feast with my friends. But you kill the fattened calf and hold a feast for that idiot who squandered your money on prostitutes!". His father replied, "Listen son, all this while you were with me, so all I have is yours. But your brother here was dead, but now he has returned, alive again."
"Well then", said Grandfather, as he finished telling the parable. "Can you tell me what's the moral value of the story?". I responded, "Yes. A father's love for his children is unconditional." "Yes, indeed.", Grandfather said. "As fathers, we should always love our children, and always be ready to forgive them so that they may be alive again." Thank you, Grandpa, for teaching me that love makes the sinner repentant, and the repentant sinner,
Forgiven.
My grandfather used to tell me these stories, of a wise man who would generously teach the crowds and share his wisdom. "It is pure philosophy", he said. "This teaches us how we should live". I asked Grandfather the way of how this wise man taught the crowds and he said, "through parables".
This is the parable of the Prodigal Son, of which was one of the many parables that was taught by that very wise man. Once upon a time, there lived a wealthy man. He owned a wide area of land and had farms all over, rich with cattle and sheep. With those, he had twenty servants, watching over his property and housekeeping. He also had two sons: one elder, and one younger. They lived together happily.
Years went by, and it seemed like the wealthy man grew old with age. The younger son became restless an was unhappy with what he had. So, he went up to his father to ask for his share of the property. The old, wealthy man tried to dissuade his son and tried to advise him to be patient but he wouldn't listen to his father whom he regarded as old and ignorant. Thus, the father splitted the property into three parts, and gave a third to his son.
This younger son, being young and naive, set out to sell off his share of the property and went on his way to another country. As soon as he reached there, he spent all his money on the pleasures that were to await him in that country. Partying, eating, drinking, gambling, brothels: he did them all. He lavished all his money on the things that could bring himself 'enjoyment', but little did he realise that he was just a young arrogant naive lad and that all of these things could not bring him content. When he did realise this, however, it was already too late. He became bankrupt. Broke. A pauper. His pockets weeping in emptiness as they were once so full.
Now this young boy questioned himself, "was this all worth it?" He slumped down into a corner in the street, full of regret. "I need more money", he thought. So he went to search for work. However, when he did find a job, he found that his employers did not pay him well, let alone feed him. Famine overcame the land in which he dwelled. "Maybe", he thought, "Maybe, if I go back to my father's house, and ask him to make me one of his servants there, at least I could get a decent meal. For I am no longer worthy to be called his son". Thus, he left, wandering back the path from which he came, to his father's house.
It took him almost a week to get across from country to country on foot, and a few more nights to reach his father's house, of which was once his original home. When he did get there, it was in the morning, and all of the wealthy man's servants would have already started working. As he approached the house, the young man saw his father standing at the front gate. His father approached him and greeted him with a loving embrace. "My son", he said. The young boy replied, "I am no longer worthy of being called your son, for I have sinned against heaven and against you. Please make me one of your servants instead". As he was saying this, his father had already called out to his servants, "Get the finest robe you can find! Kill the fattened calf and prepare it for my son has returned from the dead!"
Therefore, a great feast was held for the return of the wealthy man's son. The father dressed his son in his finest robe, put a ring on his finger, had the best meal prepared out of the calf that they had been fattening in their farms, and sang songs of rejoicing! However, as the elder son saw this, he was furious. "All this while I have been with you, worked and slaved myself for you but not once did you even give me a goat to feast with my friends. But you kill the fattened calf and hold a feast for that idiot who squandered your money on prostitutes!". His father replied, "Listen son, all this while you were with me, so all I have is yours. But your brother here was dead, but now he has returned, alive again."
"Well then", said Grandfather, as he finished telling the parable. "Can you tell me what's the moral value of the story?". I responded, "Yes. A father's love for his children is unconditional." "Yes, indeed.", Grandfather said. "As fathers, we should always love our children, and always be ready to forgive them so that they may be alive again." Thank you, Grandpa, for teaching me that love makes the sinner repentant, and the repentant sinner,
Forgiven.
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