Prodigal Son

Speaker 0 00:00:01 <inaudible> today, we'll go through the gospel line by line, adding commentary as we go as usual, uh, quotes are edited, cut and pasted. We'll rely principally on work of dr. Tim gray with some excerpts from other Bible commentaries, be too tidy and tedious to sign them on a sermon. So let's get started. Speaker 1 00:00:24 And he said there was a man who had two sons and the younger of them said to his father, father, give me the share Speaker 0 00:00:30 Property. That falls to me, the name of father and son and Holy spirit. Amen. Today's gospel. The parable of the prodigal son is found in chapter 15 of the gods. Plus Saint Luke. Our Lord Speaker 1 00:00:45 Well tells this story. Well, he's sharing a meal with tax collectors and sinners, and then that's an act which brought great consternation to the scribes and fairs. We'll start then by briefly, acquainting ourselves with describing farracies. Then we'll Speaker 0 00:01:01 The parable and its scriptural context, and then we'll turn to the parable itself. So the scribe Speaker 1 00:01:09 Alpha dire, Sean, he's a Jew who in the 18 hundreds converted became an Anglican priest. And professor Oxford describes the Jewish cry Speaker 0 00:01:19 Of our Lord's time. I quote, Speaker 1 00:01:21 Describe as the rabbi, the master expects full explanations in respectful demeanor. He is the lawyer of the divine aristocrat among the vulgar heard of rude and profane country. People who know not the law and are cursed the ultimate authority and all questions of faith and practice is the teacher of the law. Although generally appearing in company with the Pharisees is not necessarily one of them for they represent a religious party. Well, he has a status and holds an office in short. He is the Sage was honors to be great in the future world. Each cried all the way, all the common people who must accordingly pay him every honor Navy, they were honored of God himself and their praises proclaimed by the angels and in heaven. Also each one of them would hold the same rank. A distinction as on earth such was to be the respect paid to their sayings. They were to be absolutely believed even if they were declared to be at the right, that to be at the right hand, Speaker 0 00:02:25 Was that the left and vice versa, closed quote or item shine. Speaker 1 00:02:31 So at this time, describe the stages of ultimate authority in questions of faith and morals. Cause authority was such the people who were blind to believe and do whatever he said to the point that if a Sage told him that something it was his right hand was actually his left hand. It was still the be a Senate. That's a little background Speaker 0 00:02:51 On the scribes. The fair Speaker 1 00:02:54 We'll start with quotations. From authors favorable to the fairs. Speaker 0 00:03:00 The Jewish virtual library tells us Speaker 1 00:03:03 The Pharisees or the spiritual fathers and modern Judaism. Their main distinguished characteristic was a belief and an oral law. They claim God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai. Speaker 0 00:03:13 And along with the Toro. Now we certainly don't believe that, um, Speaker 1 00:03:18 This oral tradition was codified and written down centuries later. And what is known as the town, Speaker 0 00:03:23 I downloaded the religious books that the modern rabbinic Judaism relies on. Speaker 1 00:03:28 So the split Pharisees are the spiritual fathers of modern Judaism. The Jewish encyclopedia gives us more details telling us this Pharisees were quote scrupulous observers of the law as interpreted by the scribes. The Pharisees formed a brotherhood emitting only those who pledged themselves to the strict observance Speaker 0 00:03:50 Medical peers who pledged Speaker 1 00:03:52 Substance groupness of payment of ties. They pledged himself to the voidance of closer association with <inaudible> where the country, people who knew not to Longview is being cursed. A true fair, see observed the same degree of periods daily Speaker 0 00:04:09 As did the priest and the temple Speaker 1 00:04:11 Wherefore was necessary. He should avoid all contact, Speaker 0 00:04:14 But the Amorites, again, those are the country. People who don't know the law and there at least according to the first season and food is being cursed. Speaker 1 00:04:22 They add a new restrictions to the biblical law in order to keep people at a safe distance Speaker 0 00:04:27 From forbid and ground Speaker 1 00:04:29 As they turned, but they made a fence around the law. Thus, they forbade the people drink wine or eat with the heathen or prevent associations, which might lead Speaker 0 00:04:38 Either to intermarriage, probably dollar tree. Speaker 1 00:04:41 The Pharisees claimed the same authority for the decisions of their scribes as for the biblical law, Speaker 0 00:04:47 Even in the case of error. Speaker 1 00:04:50 And they went so far as to say that you transgress. Speaker 0 00:04:53 In other words, the words of their scribes deserve death close, close, the Jewish encyclopedia. Speaker 1 00:05:00 So true Pharisee observed the same degree of purity Speaker 0 00:05:05 As did the priest working in the temple. Speaker 1 00:05:08 The fair seats added new restrictions to the biblical law in order to keep the people at a safe distance from forbidden ground, the Pharisees claim, the same authority, even case of error for this description, this decision of their scribes Speaker 0 00:05:23 As for the laws of the Holy scripture. Speaker 1 00:05:25 And they went so far as to say that anyone trans trans press the decision that there's tribes Speaker 0 00:05:30 Deserve death. So that's a little background of first from Jewish sources, let's turn to Catholic commentator. The brilliant dr. Tim gray quote, Speaker 1 00:05:42 The Jews lived under dietary precepts that were given in the laws of Moses. One of the earmarks that Jewish identity was the kosher laws, specialized governing pouch, Speaker 0 00:05:53 And what they could do. For example, the pork was forbid, the Pharisees intensified Speaker 1 00:05:59 The cultural significance of table fellowship and the kosher laws by demanding that this stringent food laws that govern the behavior of the temple priests, big extended to government, eating of all foods, Speaker 0 00:06:11 All of his trial close calls. Speaker 1 00:06:13 Now stop and think about that for a minute. Even though it's Speaker 0 00:06:16 Clear that everyone is not in the temple and that are going, it's not a priest, it's still the Pharisees demand in effect Speaker 1 00:06:26 Every time and anywhere someone sits down to eat, he must act and be treated Speaker 0 00:06:32 As such. In other words, as a piece in the temple. And is it, Speaker 1 00:06:35 He's a priest. Remember the Pharisees claim, the same authority, even in the case of air for the decisions they're scribes as for the teaching of sacred scripture. Speaker 0 00:06:44 And they went so far as to demand that anyone to transgress these decisions deserve death. Speaker 1 00:06:51 We continue dr. Gray. Cool. The Pharisees magnified the meeting of meals to the point where they became religious acts like prayer and fasting. When I had to sit at table with the same kind of ritual purity, that appraised was required to keep one serving at the altar, thus making meals, a symbolic statement of Jewish identity, given the holiness of the meal, the farracies held that one could not be at table with those who are unclaimed anyone, not cells and observing the Torah was excluded from the table. The Pharisees were scrupulous about what was he, how was he? And with whom it was he meals with Gentiles and their Speaker 0 00:07:29 Oh, sure. Food were forbidden Speaker 1 00:07:33 In the eyes of the Pharisees jesus' presence at the table of a tax collector was worse than bad social etiquette. There was a breach of piety tax collectors were despised for being treacherous accomplices to the Roman Iranian authorities. They're inevitable contact with Gentiles made them ritually, unclean, and according farracies to eat with them would be ritually defiled. This is why the fair seeds are so scandalized by Jews coming to a feast, hosted by and filled with tax collectors and sinners. How could a respectable Jew not to mention a rabbi and a prophet break, the social taboos and eat with the religious outcasts? Do you not realize that to eat with such people was to give them tasks and acceptance? Did you not realize that he wished such people would make him Speaker 0 00:08:23 Close quote? So that's a little background on affairs. Now, the scriptural context of the parable, Speaker 1 00:08:32 The parable of the prodigal son, as we said, it's taken from the 15th chapter st. Luke's gospel, which begins as follows look 15 verses one and two. Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him and the Pharisees and the scribes murmured saying this man receives center and Speaker 0 00:08:52 It's with them. Tim Gretta, Jesus Speaker 1 00:08:56 Will add a face is teaching a crowd Speaker 0 00:08:58 Tax collectors and sinners. The Pharisees Speaker 1 00:09:02 That gene is once again, undermining Jewish identity and popular Speaker 0 00:09:06 Are scandalized. Speaker 1 00:09:08 Jesus responds by telling three parables or stories that explains packets of eating with notorious sinners, each story climaxes with a celebration, not too different from the one that is provoked Speaker 0 00:09:20 Scandal. The first two stories are short and quite similar close quote, hello, Speaker 1 00:09:29 Chapter 15, verses three to seven quotes. So he told them this parable, what man of you having a hundred sheep, if he has lost, one of them does not leave the 99 in the wilderness and go after the one which is lost until he finds it. When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders for Joyce. When he comes home, he calls together as friends and his neighbors saying to them, rejoice at me, private on my shape, which was lost. Just so I tell you, the remote you are in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99, right? Speaker 0 00:09:58 It's persons who need no repentance close quote, Speaker 1 00:10:02 Rejoice for, I found my sheep, which was lost. Just so I tell you the Remodulin Speaker 0 00:10:08 Heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons who need no rejoice with me. We continue Luke 15, eight through 10. Speaker 1 00:10:22 What woman having 10 silver coins. If she loses one coin does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds him. Once she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors saying rejoice with me. I found the coin, which I had lost. Just so I tell you there's joy before the angels of God, Speaker 0 00:10:40 Over one sinner who repents close call Speaker 1 00:10:44 Rejoice for. I found that Speaker 0 00:10:46 Coin, which I lost. Just so I tell you, there is joy before the angels of the God or one center, repents of choice. Dr. Dre Speaker 1 00:11:00 In each case has a rejoice in celebration. Speaker 0 00:11:04 When the lost his phone, Speaker 1 00:11:06 These brief stories set up the climactic parable. The story of the prodigal son must be remembered. The Jesus is telling the story of the prodigal son as an explanation for his own feet. Speaker 0 00:11:16 16 was centers look 15, 11, 12. Speaker 1 00:11:21 And he said there was a man who had two sons and the younger them said his father, father give me the share of the property that fall Speaker 0 00:11:27 To me, dr. Dre, even G Speaker 1 00:11:30 Audience of tax Western sinners would be stunned by such a bold request Speaker 0 00:11:37 In their culture Speaker 1 00:11:38 Task of father. For one share in the heritage. This was was to say, dad, why don't you just die? Let me get on with my life with my Speaker 0 00:11:46 Sure. I want my inheritance dad Swan. He just dropped dead look. 15, Speaker 1 00:11:54 12. They divide his living between taught to Cray. How does the father react? Dying to himself dying whose property acts as if he were dead. And he gives his younger son, his share Speaker 0 00:12:08 The inheritance look 15, 13, not many, Speaker 1 00:12:12 Two days later, the younger son gathered all. Yeah. Speaker 0 00:12:15 And took his journey into a far country. Speaker 1 00:12:18 Now the phrase gathered all he had took his journey indicates he sold anything that he couldn't carry. Even though part of his inheritance may very well have been land. Speaker 0 00:12:28 Dr. Greeter, Speaker 1 00:12:29 Not many days later, the younger son took his share of the family property sold. It took the money and left town. Again, jesus' audience is a aghast selling one's family land and a career in Israel was no light matter in market we trail or a foolish of immense proportions. The prodigal son that journeys to a far country and Jewish terms to be in a far country was synonymous with exile for the Jews. Only the promised land. The Holy land was to be the home for God's people. The promised land was a great blessing. Promised to Abraham and to live outside of the promised land was considered the worst of curses to all ears. Jesus story was not a story about sin and XL. A story familiar enough to every, to the product son could not sink lower. Luke 15, 13 to under son gathered all. Speaker 1 00:13:22 He had took his 200 in a far country and there he squandered his property in loose living the product called sun cannot sink lower. And yet he does. He squandered his property in those living. Now the Greek word here that Saint Luke actually used for loose living is a Soto's. What does that mean? Well, it's easy to see because in the context of scripture, in the first letter of Saint Peter, Saint Peter using the same root word gives a very clear description of a loose living in this translation. The word of Soto says translate for loose. Living is translated. Prophecy st. Peter let the time that has passed suffice for doing what the Gentiles like to do. Living licentious Speaker 0 00:14:07 Passions, drunkenness, rebels, crowding, and lawless idolatry. Speaker 1 00:14:13 They're surprised that you're not now join them in the same wild Speaker 0 00:14:18 Close quote. First Peter chapter four, verses three, four, Speaker 1 00:14:23 Live in your licentiousness passions, drunkenness rebels, Kara Crousey Wallace high doll Speaker 0 00:14:29 Between while you see for a while, Speaker 1 00:14:32 A lot of our universities Speaker 0 00:14:34 Now it's spring break. What's going on. Licentiousness passions, grumpiness, roundness, crowding, lawless idolatry. Well prophecy. A lot of our young people Speaker 1 00:14:53 This very day. The great word here. So close can also be translated to botch, which is dictionary tells us means extreme indulgence and bodily pleasure and especially sexual pleasures. It's clear from the comment made later on by the elder brother, Bob, the prodigal son wasted his money on harlots. We continue look 15 verses 14 to 16. And when he had spent everything, a great famine Rose in that country began to be in wand. So when John himself to one of the citizens that country who sent him into his fields to feed swine, he would gladly have fed on the pods of swine and no one gave him anything. Dr. Gray famine strikes protocol is destitute and hungry. Taking whatever work you can find. The product will eventually finds a job. Feeding swine surely this being a gas for two from the crowd for a pig is seen as the most unclean animal to the Jews. Speaker 1 00:15:54 The product was defiled himself by a service to pagans and made himself uncleaned by his contact with prostitutes and swine prodigals surprise. That's blocking him to the depths of exile and shame look 15 verses 17 and 19. But when he came to himself, he said, how many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare. But I perish here with hunger. I will arise and go to my father. And I will say to him, father I've sinned against heaven. And before you, I'm no longer worthy to be called your son, treat me as one of your hired servants. So here we have the theme of repentance, which is an absolutely necessary condition for the return of any center to God. And it's a key feature. As we've seen in each one of these parables and the parable law shape. We here, there'll be more joining heaven over one sinner who repents over 99, righteous. Speaker 1 00:16:47 We need no repentance. And the parable of the lost coin. We hear there's joy before the angels of God, over one sinner who repents. And here we have the prodigals saying father I've sinned against heaven before you are no longer worthy to be called. Your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants. Dr. Gray, the product was applied as brought into the depths of exon shame. But at deep conversion occurs, product comes to his senses and resolves. I will arise and go to my father and say to him, father, I had sinned against heaven. And before you are no longer worthy to be called your son treatments, when you were hired servants. Now there's a radical reversal in this story by leaving home and taking a chef's inheritance son acted as though his father were dead. Now, the son decides to act as if he were dead by intending to ask his father that he treat him as just another hired hand, Luke 15, 20, and he Rose and came to his father. Dr. Gray notice that Jesus said the prodigal Rose and to his father. Speaker 0 00:17:50 The word here for Rose Speaker 1 00:17:51 An estimate is the same word used later today. Speaker 0 00:17:54 Describe jesus' resurrection. The significance is clear repentance and returning to the father lead to a resurrection Speaker 1 00:18:04 Look, 15, 20, but while use yet in a distance, his father saw him and had compassion and ran and embraced him and kissed him. Speaker 0 00:18:10 Jim, dr. Gray. Speaker 1 00:18:13 Well, the son was on his way home. The father sees him from a distance, had compassion and ran and embraced him and kissed him. The product was given the welcome, not of a servant, but of a son. The father's acceptance of his way, where his son is unexpected. He gives his son a kiss, the sign of peace. Even before the product will, can speak words of repentance, Luke 15, 21 through 24. And the sunset of father I've sinned against heaven before you are no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his servants bring quickly the best role with put it on him and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet, bring the fatted calf and kill it. Let us eat and make Merry for this. My son was dead Speaker 0 00:18:53 And he's alive. Again. He was lost and is found and began to make Mary dr. Gray Speaker 1 00:19:02 Father gives us son for their tokens of acceptance, welcoming home with the best robe, a ring and Sanchez. And isn't the climax of truth. Sating true proceeding parables. The father calls for the fatted calf and says, let us eat. Make Merry for this. My son was dead Speaker 0 00:19:17 And he's alive. Again. He was lost in his phone just as another tool. Speaker 1 00:19:22 There's a celebration honor of the loss being phone, let us eat and make Merry for this. My son was dead and is alive. He was lost in his phone. Given the context of the story. The point of the parable comes to discard. Jeez, the table fellowship with sinners and tax collectors is a celebration Speaker 0 00:19:42 Of the loss of being found. Speaker 1 00:19:44 The spiritually dead Speaker 0 00:19:46 Being resurrected. The return Speaker 1 00:19:48 Lost is celebrated not only on earth, but also in heaven. Jesus makes is clear. When he says, I tell you there'll be more enjoying heaven over one sinner that repents over 99, righteous persons who need no repentance, GSF were saying to the fairest I am facing was centered to celebrate their return to the father. Jesus is playing the role of the father, accepting the prodigal sons back into the family. The people of God, those who were once slave to sin are welcome back. Speaker 0 00:20:19 Like the prodigal son in the family of God. What's the farracies response. This is the final point of the parable. Luke Speaker 1 00:20:27 15, 25 to 28. Now his elder son was in the field. As he came junior to the house, he heard music and dancing and he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. And he said to him, your brother has come. Your father has killed the fatted calf because he's received him safe and sound. Who's angry and refused to go in his, came and treated him. Dr. Gray, as the older son comes home from the field to here's the celebration and calls a servant. Find out what's going on. Servant tells him the story of his youngest brother returned reconciliation reconciliation with the father. Who's angry. He refused to come in. His father came up and entreated him. Notice that the elder son symbolically refuses to go in while the father comes up to where he is hoping to bring him inside Speaker 0 00:21:15 Home with the younger son, Speaker 1 00:21:18 Luke 1529 to 32, but he answered his father lo these many years, I've served you and I never disobeyed your command. You never gave me a kid that I might may marry with my friends. But when this son of yours come came was devoted living with harlots. You killed for him, the fatted calf. And he said to him, son, you are always with me in all that is mine is yours. It's fitting to make Merry and be glad for this. Your brother was dead Speaker 0 00:21:44 And it's alive. He was lost and his phone. Speaker 1 00:21:49 So elder brother was angry. Refuse to go in and in his refusal used some very interesting phrases. Listen carefully. Well of these many years, I've served. You never disobeyed your command. You never gave me a kid that I might make Merry with my friends. When this son of yours came, who was devolved, you're living with harlots. You killed the fatted calf. He's not happy, but his brothers finally come home. In fact, he doesn't even call him his brother. He calls him this son of yours and that's not harsh enough. He says it was Davagian living in harlots. So there's no joy. There's no Thanksgiving. There's no fruit. Speaker 0 00:22:24 There's no compassion. Instead of what do we see? Anger, Speaker 1 00:22:28 Self righteousness, his concerns revolve around what he perceives to be unfairness and injustice. He's been good. Why didn't he get a party notice? Also, when he speaks about his relationship with his father, he used the word serve, served you and obeyed your command. It doesn't sound like the most healthy relationship between a son and a father. Speaker 0 00:22:51 A loving son Speaker 1 00:22:53 Shall be his father's commandments carefully, but the language he's using your sounds more proper to the relationship between a slave or a servant, his master. Then the relationship between a son who loves his father. I obey the commandments that he gives and evidence of love. Any evidence of charity, Speaker 0 00:23:10 Any evidence of devotion saw master service without charity, Speaker 1 00:23:17 Mercy to the undeserving is going to seem unfair. If you don't have cherry, it's going to seem unfair to see mercy being given to the undeserving. It's gonna offend your sense of justice without shared mercy. The undeserving is cluttered. Speaker 0 00:23:39 <inaudible> Speaker 1 00:23:43 Let's do the scene one more time, but notice how the father responds Speaker 0 00:23:46 To his hurt and angry older son. He was angry. Refuse to go in. His father came Speaker 1 00:23:52 And treated him, but he answered his father. Well, this many years of service and I never disobeyed your Speaker 0 00:23:57 Man yet, you never gave me a kid that I might make Merry with your friends. But when this is your son appeared, when this son of yours Speaker 1 00:24:03 Just came, was Deval. You're living with harlots. You killed for him, the fatted calf. And he said to him, son, you are always with me. And all that. Speaker 0 00:24:10 Mine is yours. It was fitting to make Merry and be glad for this. Your brother was dead and is alive. His lost he's found. Speaker 1 00:24:19 So the elder son refused to go in. So his father comes out to meet him Speaker 0 00:24:23 Just as he ran out to his younger son. Now he's coming out in this case to reach out to his elder son. Speaker 1 00:24:31 That's not all it was. The father came out and treated him. He's not commanding it. Speaker 0 00:24:34 The elder son to come in, he's in trading. Speaker 1 00:24:37 He's pleading with him. He's begging, he's employing them to come in, but he's not commanding. Now the father says, son, you are always with me. And all that is mine is yours. The translation doesn't really do justice to what the father is saying here, because the word son that's been used for this whole chapter is a different word. All of a sudden, right now, the father use a different word teknon which means my child, according to lexicon is more familiar, more affectionate term. So by her frame to his son, as my child, Speaker 0 00:25:06 It's using more than gearing speech, just calling him son Speaker 1 00:25:10 And the father continues in all that's. Mine Speaker 0 00:25:12 Is yours. In other words, I'll let son has nothing to worry about. Isn't he Speaker 1 00:25:17 It's already there. The property's already been divided. The younger son took his share. The rest is going to go to the older son. So this party is in no way, a threat to his inheritance. It's truly a celebration of the return of the prodigal son Speaker 0 00:25:29 Who is dead and is alive. Who's lost in his phone. Dr. Gray, Speaker 1 00:25:35 The father's word to the older son are intended by Jesus to dress the Pharisees who stand outside the banquet. Murmuring Jesus tells the story, the prodigal son, and the hope the Pharisees will come and join the celebration. The story functions both as an explanation of Jesus table fellowship, and as an invitation to the Ferriss to join Jesus in the prodigals at the family table. Thus the last lines of parable question, the Pharisees own questioning of Jesus table fellowship, jazz ans this joy there with the father's invitation, not telling us the response of the older son is this is intentional for Jesus. Leaving the door open to affairs, like the prodigal's father, Jesus invites them to come in and celebrate with him. Speaker 0 00:26:20 The return of lost Speaker 1 00:26:24 Another layer of millions parable. We'll just consider first in terms of salvation history lesson, very clear. The book of acts, God sends Moses to Pharaoh to tell him and I quote, and you should say to Pharaoh, thus says, the Lord Speaker 0 00:26:44 Is my first born son. Let my son go. That he made, sir, if you refused to let him go behold, I was your first born son close. Cool. So in terms of salvation history, the father of course symbolizes God. The father, the prodigal son stands for the Gentile who after the worship and knowledge of the true God after the flood turned to our dogs, we read the prompt that in Psalm 95, five words, all the gods, the Gentiles are demons. That's a scripture. So, and yet, in spite of all their sin and idolatry in response to Christ, the same nations came into the face and the eldest son symbolize the Jewish people. And sadly enough, God, the father is still waiting for them to come in and join the feast. So that's at the scale of salvation history at one level on another level, the para ball refers to each one of us because to some degree, each one of us except him, of course, our lady of sin and fallen short of the glory of God has seen Paul says in Romans three 23, certainly anyone that's had the misfortune to fall in the mortal sin has played the role of the prodigal taking that priceless inheritance of sanctifying, grace and squandered and spiritually speaking, fond himself, living with the swine. Speaker 0 00:28:07 So the chances are pretty good, that many probably to the life of the prodigal son, but there's another possibility. And in that light, we'll close with a few questions on one of my best friends, was the president tell the motorcycle club definitely a believe in Catholic by like a lot of combat vets. He had his struggles. Anyhow, I buried him a few years ago, but if you were alive and shut up there on his car, not to raise the cane, but just to go to mass, how would he need to see it, man? Like that can be welcomed to here. Speaker 0 00:28:58 If you were to show up whose behavior would we model ours, the father or the eldest son. If I were to invite a girl with a ringer, nosy tats, all holding her arms to mass here, how was she received as a woman? Like that can be welcomed here. If she were to show up who's brave. And what do we model ourselves fathers or the eldest son. So John, just theoretical question and more than a few, a tragedy chapels, some of the folks present behave more like bouncers, keeping the red for Athleta, some swine nightclub, the Catholics, happy to see what appears to be the return of a prodigal who pretty obviously needs our Lord. Speaker 0 00:30:22 It's not just some theoretical statement. Some years ago, I sent a woman, a friend of many years, standing to mass. We talked about religion for years. She'd been away from math since she was 16 years old, some 30 odd years. By that time, she finally decided that she wanted to go back. So I sent her to a traditional chapel. She was so excited before she went. She had to drive 180 miles one way on wintery, no roads up North just to get to midnight mass. She was so excited. And then she came back. She came back. She never told me what happened, but I can guess maybe she didn't pass some kind of test with some of the snippy people that seem to prowl around traditional chapels. Maybe she didn't really chose the right time and someone dumped her or maybe she made the mistake of disturbing someone by asking them to help her follow the mess on who knows? I don't know. She never told me what happened. I do. I know two things. First off, she wasn't welcomed. The Mormons were welcomed there. The evangelicals and Pentecostals would have welcomed her charismatic Catholics would have welcomed her, but the traditionalist in welcomer, she wasn't welcomed that's first and second. A Mariko she'll never be back. I doubt if she'll ever go to a Catholic church again, no salvation cherish and people would call themselves traditional Catholics drove her away.