06/09/2026
Sermon and Gospel Reading • Sunday, 6 September 2026
The Gospel According to Matthew 22:2-14
The Lord said this parable, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a marriage feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast; but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, Behold, I have made ready my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves are killed, and everything is ready; come to the marriage feast.' But they made light of it and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the thoroughfares, and invite to the marriage feast as many as you find.' And those servants went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.
But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment; and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen."
Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today our Lord places before us one of the most beautiful images of the Kingdom of Heaven. He tells us that “the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son” (Matthew 22:2). Immediately we are given an image of joy, celebration, communion and love. The Kingdom of God is not presented as something cold or distant, but as a banquet, a wedding feast, a gathering into the house of the King. God invites humanity into His joy, into His life, into His presence. He does not merely command us from afar; He calls us near.
This invitation runs through all of Holy Scripture. Through the Prophet Isaiah we hear, “Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters” (Isaiah 55:1), and our Lord Himself says, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). God is always calling, always inviting, always opening the door.
And yet, in today’s parable, something tragic happens. The invited guests refuse to come. Some ignore the invitation altogether. One goes to his farm, another to his business, and others react with hostility. What is striking is that some of them are not occupied with obviously evil things. They are simply busy with ordinary life. They have work to do, responsibilities to attend to, matters that seem more urgent at that moment.
And perhaps this is where the Gospel speaks most clearly to our own age.
Most people do not consciously wake up in the morning and say, “Today I will reject God.” More often, God is simply pushed aside little by little. There is work, there are bills, there are appointments, there are children’s activities, social commitments, messages, phones, worries and endless responsibilities. Prayer is left for later. Church is left for another Sunday. Confession is postponed. Forgiveness is delayed. Time with the family is sacrificed because there is always one more thing to do.

Saint John Chrysostom, speaking of this parable, points out how astonishing it is that those who had been invited preferred ordinary earthly concerns to the honour of attending the King’s banquet. They chose what was temporary over what was eternal.
And this Gospel falls beautifully on Father’s Day, because fatherhood itself is an invitation from God. It is a calling. It is not simply a biological fact or a social responsibility. In the life of the Church, fatherhood is a vocation. A father is entrusted with souls. He is called not merely to provide for his children, but to guide them, protect them, pray for them and help lead them toward Christ.
Saint Paul says, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). Saint Paul does not say that a father’s only responsibility is to provide food, education, clothing and material security, important though these things may be. He speaks of something deeper. He speaks of bringing children up in the Lord.
A Christian father is called not simply to build a house, but to help create a Christian home. He is called not only to put food on the table, but also to teach his children to thank God for that food. He is called not only to teach them how to make a living, but how to live. He is called not only to prepare them for the world, but to prepare them for the Kingdom of God.
And children learn these things not merely from what we say, but from what they see.
A father may tell his children that prayer is important, but if they never see him pray, they will remember that. He may tell them that Sunday worship matters, but if the Divine Liturgy is always the first thing sacrificed when life becomes busy, they will notice that too. He may speak about forgiveness, but if he holds bitterness for years, they will learn bitterness more easily than forgiveness. He may speak about love, but if the atmosphere of the home is filled with anger, impatience or indifference, that atmosphere will preach more loudly than his words.
This is why fatherhood requires great humility. None of us is a perfect father. Every father makes mistakes. There are moments of impatience, moments of distraction, moments when work becomes too important, moments when we fail to listen, fail to understand, or realise much later that we should have done something differently.
But the Gospel does not ask us to pretend that we are perfect. It calls us to repentance.
Sometimes one of the most powerful things a father can ever say to his child is, “Forgive me. I was wrong.”
Those words do not diminish a father’s authority. They purify it. They show that Christian authority is not domination, but service. It is not pride, but sacrifice.
And here we come closer to the deepest meaning of fatherhood, because our understanding of fatherhood ultimately comes from God Himself. What kind of Father does Christ reveal to us? He reveals a Father who loves, who waits, who forgives, who receives the prodigal son, who seeks the lost, and who gives His Son for the life of the world.
Saint John writes, “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son” (John 3:16).
True fatherhood therefore always involves giving. A father gives his time, his strength, his patience, his wisdom, his protection and his presence. Often, the greatest thing a father can give is not something he can buy.
Children may forget many of the possessions we gave them. They may forget the expensive gifts, the holidays, or the things we thought were essential. But they often remember whether their father listened to them. They remember whether he was there when they needed him. They remember whether they felt safe in his presence. They remember whether he prayed for them. They remember whether they saw him kneel before God. They remember whether his faith was real.
And then today’s Gospel moves to the second part of the parable. The wedding hall becomes filled with guests, but when the king enters, he sees a man who is not wearing a wedding garment. The king asks him, “Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?” (Matthew 22:12), and the man has no answer.
The Fathers of the Church understood this wedding garment as the transformed life that must accompany our response to God’s invitation. Saint John Chrysostom teaches that it is not enough simply to enter the banquet. Our life must become worthy of the gift that has been offered to us. Saint Gregory the Great speaks of this garment as love, because without love even our religious observance remains empty.
Saint Paul says the same thing when he writes, “If I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:2).
We may belong outwardly to the Church. We may have been baptised, know the prayers, light candles, celebrate the feasts and attend the services. But the Gospel asks us something deeper: are we wearing the wedding garment? Have we put on Christ?
Saint Paul tells us, “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:27).
To put on Christ means to clothe ourselves with mercy, patience, humility, repentance, faithfulness, forgiveness and love. And perhaps this is the greatest gift that a father can offer his children: not simply material security, but the sight of a life gradually being clothed with Christ.
The greatest inheritance a father can leave is not money, property or even education. All of these things have their place, but the deepest inheritance is faith.
One day every father will leave this life, and everything we have accumulated will pass into other hands. But if a child can say, “My father taught me to pray,” that remains. If a child can say, “My father took me to Church,” that remains. If a child can say, “My father taught me to forgive,” that remains. If a child can say, “My father made mistakes, but I saw him repent,” that remains. If a child can say, “My father loved God,” then a seed has been planted that may bear fruit for generations.
In the Old Testament Joshua says, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). Every Christian father is called, in his own way, to say the same thing. Not through force or fear, not through constant criticism or control, but through example, consistency, prayer and love.
A father cannot force faith into the heart of his child. No parent can control every decision a child will one day make. But we can plant seeds.
Saint Paul says, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6).
That is a deeply consoling word for every father and every parent. We are called to plant and to water, but the growth belongs to God. We teach, we pray, we guide, we correct, we forgive and we keep the door open. Then we entrust our children to the grace of God.
And Father’s Day itself can be a day of many different emotions. Some among us are blessed to still have our fathers with us. Others remember fathers who have departed this life. Some remember warmth, love and security. Others carry wounds, disappointment or even pain. Some fathers themselves may carry sorrow because their relationship with their children has become difficult or distant.
The Church does not ignore any of these realities.
If our father is living, today is an opportunity to honour him, to speak to him, to thank him and to love him while there is still time. Let us not wait until a funeral to say the words we could have said during life.
If our father has departed, then love continues through prayer. We remember him before God, we light a candle, we offer his name in the Divine Liturgy and we ask the Lord to grant him rest.
If we ourselves are fathers and know that we have failed in some area, today can be a beginning. A phone call can begin a reconciliation. An apology can open a door. A simple act of love can soften a wounded heart. There are things that God can restore which we may have long considered lost.
And for those who have been wounded by their earthly fathers, Holy Scripture reminds us that the weakness of a human father does not define the fatherhood of God. The Psalmist says, “As a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him” (Psalm 103:13).
God remains faithful even when human beings are weak.
And so we return once more to the wedding feast.
The banquet has been prepared. The doors are open. The invitation continues to go out.
“Come.”
Come with your joys and your failures. Come with your wounds. Come with your family. Come with your sins and repent of them. Come and put on the wedding garment. Come and allow Christ to transform your life.
And today perhaps the invitation is especially addressed to fathers.
Do not only lead your children toward success. Lead them toward Christ.
Do not only teach them how to survive in this world. Teach them how to live in the presence of God.
Do not only give them what money can buy. Give them what faith can give.
Let them see you pray. Let them see you forgive. Let them see you serve. Let them see you repent. Let them see you love your wife, honour your family and place God at the centre of your home.
Because one day our children will grow, and one day they will walk their own path. We will not be able to stand beside them at every moment. But perhaps, somewhere deep within them, there will remain the memory of a father who pointed toward Christ.
Today we give thanks for our fathers, those who are living and those who have fallen asleep in the Lord. We pray for all men who bear the sacred responsibility of fatherhood, and we ask God to give them wisdom without harshness, strength without pride, authority without domination, tenderness without weakness, and above all a heart filled with Christ.
And may all of us, fathers, mothers, children and grandparents alike, hear the invitation of the King and answer it while there is still time.
May we not become so busy with the farm, the business and the worries of this life that we forget the banquet of the Kingdom.
May we put on the wedding garment of love.
May we clothe ourselves with Christ.
And may we lead those entrusted to us toward that eternal wedding feast where there is no sorrow, no separation and no death, but only the joy of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and forever and unto the ages of ages.
Amen.
Ἀγαπητοί μου ἀδελφοί καὶ ἀδελφές ἐν Χριστῷ,
Σήμερα ὁ Κύριός μας θέτει μπροστά μας μία ἀπὸ τὶς ὡραιότερες εἰκόνες τῆς Βασιλείας τῶν Οὐρανῶν. Μᾶς λέγει ὅτι «ὡμοιώθη ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν ἀνθρώπῳ βασιλεῖ, ὅστις ἐποίησε γάμους τῷ υἱῷ αὐτοῦ» (Ματθ. 22:2).
Ἀμέσως ἔχουμε μπροστά μας μία εἰκόνα χαρᾶς, ἑορτῆς, κοινωνίας καὶ ἀγάπης. Ἡ Βασιλεία τοῦ Θεοῦ δὲν παρουσιάζεται ὡς κάτι ψυχρό ἢ μακρινό, ἀλλὰ ὡς γαμήλιο τραπέζι, ὡς πανήγυρη, ὡς πρόσκληση νὰ μποῦμε στὸ σπίτι τοῦ Βασιλέως. Ὁ Θεὸς προσκαλεῖ τὸν ἄνθρωπο νὰ μπει στὴ χαρά Του, στὴ ζωή Του, στὴν παρουσία Του. Δὲν μᾶς δίνει ἁπλῶς ἐντολὲς ἀπὸ μακριά· μᾶς καλεῖ κοντά Του.
Αὐτὴ ἡ πρόσκληση διατρέχει ὁλόκληρη τὴν Ἁγία Γραφή. Διὰ τοῦ προφήτου Ἠσαΐου ἀκοῦμε: «Πάντες οἱ διψῶντες, δεῦτε ἐπὶ τὸ ὕδωρ» (Ἠσ. 55:1), καὶ ὁ ἴδιος ὁ Χριστὸς μᾶς λέγει: «Δεῦτε πρός με πάντες οἱ κοπιῶντες καὶ πεφορτισμένοι, κἀγὼ ἀναπαύσω ὑμᾶς» (Ματθ. 11:28). Ὁ Θεὸς πάντοτε καλεῖ, πάντοτε προσκαλεῖ, πάντοτε ἀνοίγει τὴν πόρτα.
Καὶ ὅμως, στὴ σημερινὴ παραβολή, συμβαίνει κάτι τραγικό. Οἱ προσκεκλημένοι δὲν θέλουν νὰ ἔρθουν. Ἄλλοι ἀδιαφοροῦν τελείως. Ὁ ἕνας πηγαίνει στὸ χωράφι του, ὁ ἄλλος στὴν ἐργασία του, καὶ ἄλλοι ἀντιδροῦν μὲ ἐχθρότητα. Ἐκεῖνο ποὺ προκαλεῖ ἐντύπωση εἶναι ὅτι κάποιοι ἀπὸ αὐτοὺς δὲν κάνουν κάτι φανερὰ κακό. Εἶναι ἁπλῶς ἀπασχολημένοι μὲ τὰ καθημερινὰ τῆς ζωῆς. Ἔχουν δουλειές, ὑποχρεώσεις, πράγματα ποὺ ἐκείνη τὴ στιγμή τοὺς φαίνονται πιὸ ἐπείγοντα.
Καὶ ἴσως ἐδῶ τὸ Εὐαγγέλιο μιλάει μὲ ἰδιαίτερη δύναμη στὴ δική μας ἐποχή.
Οἱ περισσότεροι ἄνθρωποι δὲν ξυπνοῦν τὸ πρωὶ λέγοντας συνειδητά: «Σήμερα θὰ ἀπορρίψω τὸν Θεό». Συνήθως ὁ Θεὸς παραμερίζεται λίγο λίγο. Ὑπάρχει ἡ δουλειά, οἱ λογαριασμοί, τὰ ραντεβού, οἱ δραστηριότητες τῶν παιδιῶν, οἱ κοινωνικὲς ὑποχρεώσεις, τὰ μηνύματα, τὰ τηλέφωνα, οἱ ἀνησυχίες καὶ μία ἀτέλειωτη σειρὰ ἀπὸ καθημερινὰ βάρη. Ἡ προσευχὴ μένει γιὰ ἀργότερα. Ἡ Ἐκκλησία γιὰ κάποια ἄλλη Κυριακή. Ἡ ἐξομολόγηση ἀναβάλλεται. Ἡ συγχώρηση μετατίθεται γιὰ ἄλλη στιγμή. Ὁ χρόνος μὲ τὴν οἰκογένεια θυσιάζεται, ἐπειδὴ πάντοτε ὑπάρχει κάτι ἀκόμη ποὺ πρέπει νὰ γίνει.
Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἰωάννης ὁ Χρυσόστομος, ἐρμηνεύοντας αὐτὴν τὴν παραβολή, τονίζει πόσο παράδοξο εἶναι ὅτι οἱ προσκεκλημένοι προτίμησαν τὶς συνηθισμένες ἐπίγειες ἀσχολίες ἀπὸ τὴν τιμὴ νὰ παρακαθίσουν στὸ τραπέζι τοῦ Βασιλέως. Προτίμησαν τὰ πρόσκαιρα ἀπὸ τὰ αἰώνια.
Καὶ σήμερα, ποὺ γιορτάζουμε τὴν Ἡμέρα τοῦ Πατέρα, τὸ Εὐαγγέλιο αὐτὸ ἀποκτᾷ ἰδιαίτερη σημασία, γιατί καὶ ἡ πατρότητα εἶναι μία πρόσκληση ἀπὸ τὸν Θεό. Εἶναι μία κλῆση. Δὲν εἶναι μόνο βιολογικὸ γεγονὸς ἢ κοινωνικὴ ὑποχρέωση. Μέσα στὴ ζωή τῆς Ἐκκλησίας ἡ πατρότητα εἶναι διακονία. Ὁ πατέρας δὲν ἔχει ἁπλῶς παιδιά· τοῦ ἐμπιστεύεται ὁ Θεὸς ψυχές. Καλεῖται ὄχι μόνο νὰ τὰ συντηρεῖ, ἀλλὰ νὰ τὰ καθοδηγεῖ, νὰ τὰ προστατεύει, νὰ προσεύχεται γιὰ αὐτά, καὶ νὰ τὰ βοηθᾷ νὰ βροῦν τὸν δρόμο πρὸς τὸν Χριστό.
Ὁ Ἀπόστολος Παῦλος λέγει: «Οἱ πατέρες, μὴ παροργίζετε τὰ τέκνα ὑμῶν, ἀλλ’ ἐκτρέφετε αὐτὰ ἐν παιδείᾳ καὶ νουθεσίᾳ Κυρίου» (Ἐφ. 6:4). Δὲν λέγει ὅτι ἡ μόνη εὐθύνη τοῦ πατέρα εἶναι νὰ δώσει τροφή, σπουδές, ροῦχα καὶ ὑλικὴ ἀσφάλεια, ὅσο σημαντικὰ κι ἂν εἶναι αὐτά. Μιλάει γιὰ κάτι βαθύτερο. Μιλάει γιὰ τὸ μεγάλωμα τῶν παιδιῶν «ἐν Κυρίῳ».
Ὁ χριστιανὸς πατέρας καλεῖται ὄχι μόνο νὰ χτίσει ἕνα σπίτι, ἀλλὰ νὰ βοηθήσει νὰ γίνει αὐτὸ τὸ σπίτι χριστιανικὴ οἰκία. Ὄχι μόνο νὰ βάλει φαγητὸ στὸ τραπέζι, ἀλλὰ καὶ νὰ μάθει στὰ παιδιά του νὰ εὐχαριστοῦν τὸν Θεὸ γιὰ αὐτό. Ὄχι μόνο νὰ τοὺς δείξει πῶς νὰ κερδίζουν τὴ ζωή τους, ἀλλὰ πῶς νὰ ζοῦν. Ὄχι μόνο νὰ τὰ προετοιμάσει γιὰ τὸν κόσμο, ἀλλὰ νὰ τὰ προετοιμάσει καὶ γιὰ τὴ Βασιλεία τοῦ Θεοῦ.
Καὶ τὰ παιδιά αὐτὰ τὰ μαθαίνουν ὄχι τόσο ἀπὸ ὅσα τοὺς λέμε, ὅσο ἀπὸ ὅσα βλέπουν.
Ἕνας πατέρας μπορεῖ νὰ λέει στὰ παιδιά του ὅτι ἡ προσευχὴ εἶναι σημαντική, ἀλλὰ ἂν δὲν τὸν βλέπουν ποτέ νὰ προσεύχεται, αὐτὸ θὰ θυμοῦνται. Μπορεῖ νὰ τοὺς λέει ὅτι ἡ Θεία Λειτουργία εἶναι σημαντική, ἀλλὰ ἂν ἡ Κυριακὴ θυσιάζεται πάντοτε πρώτη ὅταν γεμίζει τὸ πρόγραμμα, τὰ παιδιά θὰ τὸ καταλάβουν. Μπορεῖ νὰ μιλάει γιὰ συγχώρηση, ἀλλὰ ἂν κρατάει μέσα του πικρία γιὰ χρόνια, τὰ παιδιά θὰ μάθουν πιὸ εὔκολα τὴν πικρία παρὰ τὴ συγχώρηση. Μπορεῖ νὰ μιλάει γιὰ ἀγάπη, ἀλλὰ ἂν τὸ σπίτι γεμίζει ἀπὸ θυμό, ἀνυπομονησία ἢ ἀδιαφορία, αὐτὸ τὸ κλίμα θὰ κηρύττει δυνατότερα ἀπὸ τὰ λόγια του.
Γι’ αὐτὸ ἡ πατρότητα χρειάζεται μεγάλη ταπείνωση. Κανένας μας δὲν εἶναι τέλειος πατέρας. Κάθε πατέρας κάνει λάθη. Ὑπάρχουν στιγμὲς ἀνυπομονησίας, στιγμὲς ἀφηρημάδας, στιγμὲς ποὺ ἡ δουλειὰ γίνεται ὑπερβολικὰ σημαντική, στιγμὲς ποὺ δὲν ἀκοῦμε ὅσο πρέπει, δὲν καταλαβαίνουμε, ἢ συνειδητοποιοῦμε πολὺ ἀργότερα ὅτι κάτι θὰ μποροῦσε νὰ εἶχε γίνει διαφορετικά.
Ἀλλὰ τὸ Εὐαγγέλιο δὲν μᾶς ζητᾷ νὰ προσποιηθοῦμε ὅτι εἴμαστε τέλειοι. Μᾶς καλεῖ στὴ μετάνοια.
Καὶ μερικὲς φορὲς μία ἀπὸ τὶς πιὸ δυνατὲς φράσεις ποὺ μπορεῖ νὰ πει ἕνας πατέρας στὸ παιδί του εἶναι: «Συγχώρεσέ με. Ἔκανα λάθος».
Αὐτὰ τὰ λόγια δὲν μειώνουν τὴν πατρικὴ ἐξουσία. Τὴν καθαρίζουν. Δείχνουν ὅτι ἡ χριστιανικὴ ἐξουσία δὲν εἶναι κυριαρχία, ἀλλὰ διακονία· δὲν εἶναι ὑπερηφάνεια, ἀλλὰ θυσία.
Καὶ ἐδῶ πλησιάζουμε στὸ βαθύτερο νόημα τῆς πατρότητας, γιατί τὸ πρότυπο κάθε πατρότητας βρίσκεται τελικὰ στὸν ἴδιο τὸν Θεό. Τί Πατέρα μᾶς ἀποκαλύπτει ὁ Χριστός; Ἕναν Πατέρα ποὺ ἀγαπᾷ, ποὺ περιμένει, ποὺ συγχωρεῖ, ποὺ δέχεται τὸν ἄσωτο υἱό, ποὺ ζητᾷ τὸ χαμένο πρόβατο, ποὺ προσφέρει τὸν Υἱό Του γιὰ τὴ ζωή τοῦ κόσμου.
Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἰωάννης ὁ Θεολόγος λέγει: «Οὕτως γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν κόσμον, ὥστε τὸν Υἱὸν αὐτοῦ τὸν μονογενῆ ἔδωκεν» (Ἰω. 3:16).
Ἡ ἀληθινὴ πατρότητα λοιπόν πάντοτε σημαίνει προσφορά. Ὁ πατέρας προσφέρει χρόνο, δύναμη, ὑπομονή, σοφία, προστασία καὶ παρουσία. Καὶ πολλές φορές τὸ μεγαλύτερο δῶρο ποὺ μπορεῖ νὰ δώσει ἕνας πατέρας δὲν ἀγοράζεται μὲ χρήματα.
Τὰ παιδιά μπορεῖ νὰ ξεχάσουν πολλὰ πράγματα ποὺ τοὺς προσφέραμε. Μπορεῖ νὰ ξεχάσουν τὰ ἀκριβά δῶρα, τὰ ταξίδια, ἢ ὅσα ἐμεῖς θεωρούσαμε ἀπαραίτητα. Ἀλλὰ συχνὰ θυμοῦνται ἂν ὁ πατέρας τους τὰ ἄκουγε. Θυμοῦνται ἂν ἦταν ἐκεῖ ὅταν τὸν χρειάζονταν. Θυμοῦνται ἂν ἔνιωθαν ἀσφάλεια δίπλα του. Θυμοῦνται ἂν προσευχόταν γι’ αὐτά. Θυμοῦνται ἂν τὸν εἶδαν νὰ γονατίζει μπροστὰ στὸν Θεό. Θυμοῦνται ἂν ἡ πίστη του ἦταν ἀληθινή.
Καὶ τότε τὸ σημερινὸ Εὐαγγέλιο περνᾷ στὸ δεύτερο μέρος τῆς παραβολῆς. Ἡ αἴθουσα γεμίζει προσκεκλημένους, ἀλλὰ ὅταν μπαίνει ὁ βασιλεὺς βλέπει ἕναν ἄνθρωπο ποὺ δὲν φοράει ἔνδυμα γάμου. Καὶ τοῦ λέγει: «Ἑταῖρε, πῶς εἰσῆλθες ὧδε μὴ ἔχων ἔνδυμα γάμου;» (Ματθ. 22:12). Καὶ ἐκεῖνος δὲν ἔχει τί νὰ ἀπαντήσει.
Οἱ Πατέρες τῆς Ἐκκλησίας εἶδαν στὸ ἔνδυμα αὐτὸ τὴν ἀλλαγμένη ζωή, τὴ ζωή ποὺ πρέπει νὰ συνοδεύει τὴν ἀποδοχὴ τῆς προσκλήσεως τοῦ Θεοῦ. Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἰωάννης ὁ Χρυσόστομος διδάσκει ὅτι δὲν ἀρκεῖ ἁπλῶς νὰ μποῦμε στὸ γαμήλιο τραπέζι· χρειάζεται καὶ ἡ ζωή μας νὰ ἀνταποκρίνεται στὸ δῶρο ποὺ λάβαμε. Ὁ Ἅγιος Γρηγόριος ὁ Μέγας συνδέει τὸ ἔνδυμα αὐτὸ μὲ τὴν ἀγάπη, γιατί χωρὶς ἀγάπη ἀκόμη καὶ ἡ θρησκευτικὴ μας ζωή μένει κενή.
Τὸ ἴδιο λέγει καὶ ὁ Ἀπόστολος Παῦλος: «Ἐὰν ἔχω πᾶσαν τὴν πίστιν, ὥστε ὄρη μεθιστάνειν, ἀγάπην δὲ μὴ ἔχω, οὐδέν εἰμι» (Α΄ Κορ. 13:2).
Μπορεῖ ἐξωτερικὰ νὰ ἀνήκουμε στὴν Ἐκκλησία. Μπορεῖ νὰ ἔχουμε βαπτισθεῖ, νὰ γνωρίζουμε τὶς προσευχές, νὰ ἀνάβουμε κεριά, νὰ τηροῦμε τὶς ἑορτές καὶ νὰ ἐρχόμαστε στὶς ἀκολουθίες. Ἀλλὰ τὸ Εὐαγγέλιο ρωτᾷ κάτι βαθύτερο: φοροῦμε τὸ ἔνδυμα τοῦ γάμου; Ἔχουμε ἐνδυθεῖ τὸν Χριστό;
Ὁ Ἀπόστολος Παῦλος λέγει: «Ὅσοι γὰρ εἰς Χριστὸν ἐβαπτίσθητε, Χριστὸν ἐνεδύσασθε» (Γαλ. 3:27).
Νὰ ἐνδυθοῦμε τὸν Χριστὸ σημαίνει νὰ ντυθοῦμε μὲ ἔλεος, ὑπομονή, ταπείνωση, μετάνοια, πιστότητα, συγχώρηση καὶ ἀγάπη. Καὶ ἴσως αὐτὸ εἶναι τὸ μεγαλύτερο δῶρο ποὺ μπορεῖ νὰ προσφέρει ἕνας πατέρας στὰ παιδιά του· ὄχι ἁπλῶς ὑλικὴ ἀσφάλεια, ἀλλὰ τὴν εἰκόνα ἑνὸς ἀνθρώπου ποὺ προσπαθεῖ μέρα μὲ τὴ μέρα νὰ ἐνδυθεῖ τὸν Χριστό.
Ἡ μεγαλύτερη κληρονομιὰ ποὺ μπορεῖ νὰ ἀφήσει ἕνας πατέρας δὲν εἶναι τὰ χρήματα, τὰ ἀκίνητα ἢ οὔτε καν ἡ μόρφωση. Ὅλα αὐτὰ ἔχουν τὴ θέση τους. Ἀλλὰ ἡ βαθύτερη κληρονομιὰ εἶναι ἡ πίστη.
Μία μέρα κάθε πατέρας θὰ φύγει ἀπὸ αὐτὴν τὴ ζωή, καὶ ὅλα ὅσα συγκέντρωσε θὰ περάσουν σὲ ἄλλα χέρια. Ἀλλὰ ἂν ἕνα παιδὶ μπορεῖ νὰ πεῖ, «Ὁ πατέρας μου μὲ ἔμαθε νὰ προσεύχομαι», αὐτὸ μένει. Ἂν μπορεῖ νὰ πεῖ, «Ὁ πατέρας μου μὲ ἔφερνε στὴν Ἐκκλησία», αὐτὸ μένει. Ἂν μπορεῖ νὰ πεῖ, «Ὁ πατέρας μου μὲ ἔμαθε νὰ συγχωρῶ», αὐτὸ μένει. Ἂν μπορεῖ νὰ πεῖ, «Ὁ πατέρας μου ἔκανε λάθη, ἀλλὰ τὸν εἶδα νὰ μετανοεῖ», αὐτὸ μένει. Καὶ ἂν μπορεῖ νὰ πεῖ, «Ὁ πατέρας μου ἀγαποῦσε τὸν Θεό», τότε ἔχει φυτευθεῖ ἕνας σπόρος ποὺ μπορεῖ νὰ καρποφορεῖ γιὰ γενιές.
Στὴν Παλαιὰ Διαθήκη ὁ Ἰησοῦς τοῦ Ναυῆ λέγει: «Ἐγὼ δὲ καὶ ἡ οἰκία μου λατρεύσομεν Κυρίῳ» (Ἰησ. Ναυῆ 24:15). Κάθε χριστιανὸς πατέρας καλεῖται, μὲ τὸν δικό του τρόπο, νὰ πεῖ τὸ ἴδιο. Ὄχι μὲ φόβο, ὄχι μὲ πίεση, ὄχι μὲ συνεχῆ κριτική, ἀλλὰ μὲ παράδειγμα, συνέπεια, προσευχὴ καὶ ἀγάπη.
Ὁ πατέρας δὲν μπορεῖ νὰ ἐπιβάλει τὴν πίστη στὴν καρδιὰ τοῦ παιδιοῦ του. Κανένας γονιὸς δὲν μπορεῖ νὰ ἐλέγξει κάθε ἀπόφαση ποὺ θὰ πάρει μία μέρα τὸ παιδί του. Μποροῦμε ὅμως νὰ φυτέψουμε σπόρους.
Ὁ Ἀπόστολος Παῦλος λέγει: «Ἐγὼ ἐφύτευσα, Ἀπολλὼς ἐπότισεν, ἀλλ’ ὁ Θεὸς ηὔξανεν» (Α΄ Κορ. 3:6).
Καὶ αὐτὸ εἶναι ἕνας πολὺ παρηγορητικὸς λόγος γιὰ κάθε πατέρα καὶ κάθε γονέα. Ἐμεῖς καλούμαστε νὰ φυτέψουμε καὶ νὰ ποτίσουμε. Ἡ αὔξηση ὅμως ἀνήκει στὸν Θεό. Ἐμεῖς διδάσκουμε, προσευχόμαστε, καθοδηγοῦμε, διορθώνουμε, συγχωροῦμε καὶ κρατᾶμε τὴν πόρτα ἀνοιχτή. Καὶ ὕστερα ἐμπιστευόμαστε τὰ παιδιά μας στὴ χάρη τοῦ Θεοῦ.
Καὶ ἡ Ἡμέρα τοῦ Πατέρα μπορεῖ νὰ ξυπνᾷ διαφορετικὰ συναισθήματα σὲ κάθε ἄνθρωπο. Κάποιοι ἔχουμε τὴν εὐλογία νὰ ἔχουμε ἀκόμη τὸν πατέρα μας κοντά μας. Ἄλλοι θυμόμαστε πατέρες ποὺ ἔχουν φύγει ἀπὸ αὐτὴν τὴ ζωή. Κάποιοι θυμοῦνται ἀγάπη, στοργὴ καὶ ἀσφάλεια. Ἄλλοι κουβαλοῦν πληγές, ἀπογοήτευση ἢ πόνο. Καὶ κάποιοι πατέρες ἴσως κουβαλοῦν μέσα τους θλίψη, γιατί ἡ σχέση τους μὲ τὰ παιδιά τους ἔγινε δύσκολη ἢ μακρινή.
Ἡ Ἐκκλησία δὲν ἀγνοεῖ καμία ἀπὸ αὐτὲς τὶς πραγματικότητες.
Ἂν ὁ πατέρας μας ζεῖ, σήμερα εἶναι μία εὐκαιρία νὰ τὸν τιμήσουμε, νὰ τοῦ μιλήσουμε, νὰ τὸν εὐχαριστήσουμε καὶ νὰ τοῦ δείξουμε τὴν ἀγάπη μας ὅσο ὑπάρχει ἀκόμη χρόνος. Ἂς μὴν περιμένουμε τὴν κηδεία γιὰ νὰ ποῦμε λόγια ποὺ μποροῦμε νὰ ποῦμε ὅσο ὁ ἄνθρωπος βρίσκεται κοντά μας.
Ἂν ὁ πατέρας μας ἔχει φύγει, τότε ἡ ἀγάπη συνεχίζεται μέσα ἀπὸ τὴν προσευχή. Τὸν μνημονεύουμε μπροστὰ στὸν Θεό, ἀνάβουμε ἕνα κερί, προσφέρουμε τὸ ὄνομά του στὴ Θεία Λειτουργία καὶ ζητοῦμε ἀπὸ τὸν Κύριο νὰ τοῦ χαρίσει ἀνάπαυση.
Καὶ ἂν ἐμεῖς οἱ ἴδιοι εἴμαστε πατέρες καὶ γνωρίζουμε ὅτι κάπου ἔχουμε ἀποτύχει, σήμερα μπορεῖ νὰ γίνει μία καινούργια ἀρχή. Ἕνα τηλεφώνημα μπορεῖ νὰ ξεκινήσει μία συμφιλίωση. Μία συγγνώμη μπορεῖ νὰ ἀνοίξει μία πόρτα. Μία ἁπλὴ πράξη ἀγάπης μπορεῖ νὰ μαλακώσει μία πληγωμένη καρδιά. Ὑπάρχουν πράγματα ποὺ ὁ Θεὸς μπορεῖ νὰ ἀποκαταστήσει, ἀκόμη κι ἂν ἐμεῖς τὰ θεωροῦμε χαμένα.
Καὶ γιὰ ἐκείνους ποὺ ἔχουν πληγωθεῖ ἀπὸ τὸν δικό τους πατέρα, ἡ Ἁγία Γραφὴ μᾶς θυμίζει ὅτι ἡ ἀδυναμία ἑνὸς ἐπίγειου πατέρα δὲν καθορίζει τὴν πατρότητα τοῦ Θεοῦ. Ὁ Ψαλμωδὸς λέγει: «Καθὼς οἰκτείρει πατὴρ υἱούς, οἰκτείρησε Κύριος τοὺς φοβουμένους αὐτόν» (Ψαλμ. 102:13).
Ὁ Θεὸς παραμένει πιστός, ἀκόμη κι ὅταν ὁ ἄνθρωπος εἶναι ἀδύναμος.
Καὶ ἔτσι ἐπιστρέφουμε πάλι στὸ γαμήλιο τραπέζι.
Τὸ τραπέζι εἶναι ἕτοιμο. Οἱ πόρτες εἶναι ἀνοιχτές. Ἡ πρόσκληση συνεχίζει νὰ ἀκούγεται.
Ἐλάτε.
Ἐλάτε μὲ τὶς χαρὲς σας καὶ μὲ τὶς ἀποτυχίες σας. Ἐλάτε μὲ τὶς πληγές σας. Ἐλάτε μὲ τὴν οἰκογένειά σας. Ἐλάτε μὲ τὶς ἁμαρτίες σας καὶ μετανοήστε. Ἐλάτε νὰ φορέσετε τὸ ἔνδυμα τοῦ γάμου. Ἐλάτε νὰ ἀφήσετε τὸν Χριστὸ νὰ μεταμορφώσει τὴ ζωή σας.
Καὶ σήμερα ἴσως ἡ πρόσκληση νὰ ἀπευθύνεται μὲ ἰδιαίτερο τρόπο στοὺς πατέρες.
Μὴν ὁδηγεῖτε τὰ παιδιά σας μόνο πρὸς τὴν ἐπιτυχία. Ὁδηγῆστε τα πρὸς τὸν Χριστό.
Μὴν τοὺς μαθαίνετε μόνο πῶς νὰ ἐπιβιώσουν στὸν κόσμο. Μάθετέ τους πῶς νὰ ζοῦν στὴν παρουσία τοῦ Θεοῦ.
Μὴν τοὺς δίνετε μόνο ὅσα μποροῦν νὰ ἀγοραστοῦν μὲ χρήματα. Δώστε τους ὅσα μπορεῖ νὰ δώσει ἡ πίστη.
Ἂς σᾶς δοῦν νὰ προσεύχεστε. Ἂς σᾶς δοῦν νὰ συγχωρεῖτε. Ἂς σᾶς δοῦν νὰ διακονεῖτε. Ἂς σᾶς δοῦν νὰ μετανοεῖτε. Ἂς σᾶς δοῦν νὰ ἀγαπᾶτε τὴ σύζυγό σας, νὰ τιμᾶτε τὴν οἰκογένειά σας καὶ νὰ βάζετε τὸν Θεὸ στὸ κέντρο τοῦ σπιτιοῦ σας.
Γιατί μία μέρα τὰ παιδιά μας θὰ μεγαλώσουν. Μία μέρα θὰ πάρουν τὸν δικό τους δρόμο. Δὲν θὰ μποροῦμε νὰ στεκόμαστε δίπλα τους κάθε στιγμή. Ἴσως ὅμως νὰ μείνει βαθιὰ μέσα τους ἡ μνήμη ἑνὸς πατέρα ποὺ τοὺς ἔδειξε τὸν Χριστό.
Σήμερα, λοιπόν, εὐχαριστοῦμε τὸν Θεὸ γιὰ τοὺς πατέρες μας, γιὰ ἐκείνους ποὺ βρίσκονται ἀκόμη κοντά μας καὶ γιὰ ἐκείνους ποὺ ἔχουν κοιμηθεῖ ἐν Κυρίῳ. Προσευχόμαστε γιὰ κάθε ἄνδρα ποὺ σηκώνει τὴν ἱερὴ εὐθύνη τῆς πατρότητας, καὶ ζητοῦμε ἀπὸ τὸν Θεὸ νὰ τοῦ χαρίζει σοφία χωρὶς σκληρότητα, δύναμη χωρὶς ὑπερηφάνεια, ἐξουσία χωρὶς καταπίεση, τρυφερότητα χωρὶς ἀδυναμία, καὶ πάνω ἀπ’ ὅλα μία καρδιὰ γεμάτη Χριστό.
Καὶ εἴθε ὅλοι μας, πατέρες, μητέρες, παιδιά καὶ παπποῦδες, νὰ ἀκούσουμε τὴν πρόσκληση τοῦ Βασιλέως καὶ νὰ ἀπαντήσουμε ὅσο ὑπάρχει ἀκόμη καιρός.
Νὰ μὴν ἀφήσουμε τὸ χωράφι, τὴ δουλειὰ καὶ τὶς μέριμνες αὐτῆς τῆς ζωῆς νὰ μᾶς κάνουν νὰ ξεχάσουμε τὸ τραπέζι τῆς Βασιλείας.
Νὰ φορέσουμε τὸ ἔνδυμα τῆς ἀγάπης.
Νὰ ἐνδυθοῦμε τὸν Χριστό.
Καὶ νὰ ὁδηγήσουμε ὅσους μᾶς ἐμπιστεύτηκε ὁ Θεὸς πρὸς ἐκεῖνο τὸ αἰώνιο γαμήλιο τραπέζι, ὅπου δὲν ὑπάρχει λύπη, χωρισμὸς ἢ θάνατος, ἀλλὰ μόνο ἡ χαρὰ τοῦ Πατρός, καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ, καὶ τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων.
Ἀμήν.
