One of my favorite parables is the Prodigal Son and his return to his jubilant Father after having squandered his wealth and goods pursuing an immoral lifestyle.
Yet the Father was so happy and consoled that his son returned to him and his family, that the Father celebrated his return with a massive feast with family and friends to share his joy!
Whatever the son did or didn't do while away from his Father, it was forgiven, and, as Catholic/Christians, we must also forgive any wrongs perpetrated by other family members, friends or neighbors.
That is the way it should be, as Our Lord admonishes us that if we don't forgive, we won't be forgiven!
That's a pretty strong statement, especially coming from the sacred mouth of Our Lord!
This is not a suggestion, but a command to forgive and forget (if possible), and return to some measure of Christian charity, especially when it comes to one's parents...
Sadly, that is not the case as far as we -- his father and mother -- are concerned.
(We are dealing with a reverse situation, so to speak. We are the "prodigals," and our son, the "father". Plus, we have consulted with his priest and our priest, to help resolve this, but to no avail.)
In my last e-mail to my son, I asked him to let me know what I (we) have done and explain -- man to man! -- so we can discuss or make peace in some way.
But there has been no response, none whatsoever.
In fact, there has been no response to the last very charitable and conciliatory e-mail letter that my wife sent to our son.
This is very disheartening and distressing to my wife and me...
And because there seems to be no chance of reconciliation on the horizon -- though we pray for such on a daily basis -- we have decided to prepare our home for sale, here in Missouri, and relocate back to New Hampshire where we have caring family and friends who love us, as we love them.
This has been an ongoing trauma for us, and the idea of going through another move and all that is associated with it, is trying to say the least...
But this is something that we must do for our peace of mind...
I am 78-years old, and my wife is 74-years old...
We never thought that we would have to move again...
We shouldn't have to move again!
But we must.
This will cost us time and treasure -- and anxiety, and that's putting it mildly.
So, in light of all this, we are currently searching for a home back East and in contact with a gracious lady real estate agent who is helping us to find suitable housing upon our return to the Live Free or Die state of New Hampshire...
In closing, this whole situation has a very bad odor about it...
Our Lord tells us to honor our father and our mother (the Fourth Commandment), but we have seen little of that since Christmas of 2023!
2023!!
I ask all to pray for peace and a resolution to this pathetic, ongoing situation...
Please know that our love for our son and his family will never die, never!
Pray too, for strength and honor!
Viva Cristo Rey! Bl. Fr. Miguel Pro, Fr. Emil Kapaun and Fr. Vincent Capodanno, pray for us...
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle...
St. Joseph pray for us!!
Gene DeLalla
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