What is a Family's Responsibility?

[Smber2c]

He is following the parable of the Prodigal Son. Neither the brother nor the father went out in search of the son, begging him to return and they’d accept him no matter what. The son humbled himself, admitted his wrong, and was accepted back.

I think you have missed the whole point of the Prodigal Son. In this tale the Father gives his son anything. The son says I want my birth right and leaves. The father doesn’t say, “If you want that birth right you’d better get out of my house.” Then after being a fool and blowing all the money, the son returns home. The Father doesn’t sit smuggly in the house like the bitter ‘faithful son’, the Father runs out to embrace his son who once was lost and now is found.

Does that Father impose stipulations? Does he ask for repentance? Does he expect his inheritance back? No, he offers a fattened calf, no questions asked.

So, claim that this parable contains lessons about shutting others out or not offering them invitations is surely twisting the story to a radical degree.

 

[otjm]

I think you have missed the whole point of the Prodigal Son. In this tale the Father gives his son anything. The son says I want my birth right and leaves. The father doesn’t say, “If you want that birth right you’d better get out of my house.” Then after being a fool and blowing all the money, the son returns home. The Father doesn’t sit smuggly in the house like the bitter ‘faithful son’, the Father runs out to embrace his son who once was lost and now is found.

Does that Father impose stipulations? Does he ask for repentance? Does he expect his inheritance back? No, he offers a fattened calf, no questions asked.

So, claim that this parable contains lessons about shutting others out or not offering them invitations is surely twisting the story to a radical degree.

To further the point about the Prodigal Son it helps to understand the beginning of the story.

The Prodigal Son demanded his birthright; that is the equivalent of demanding his inheritance.

Given the fact that a good Jew had a (hugh) obligation of responsibility for his parents until they died, and the Prodigal Son demanding his inheritance was the equivalent of treating his father to the father’s face as if he (the father) had died, perhaps we could now see how horribly the son was treating the father. It was the equivalent of telling the father “As far as I am concerned, you are dead, and I want my money now!”

Talking about how the father did not go and seek the Prodigal Son misses entirely how the son had treated him. The son had cut himself off completely from the family; there was nothing to persue.

The story is not about no one seeking the son until he humbled himself; it is about the tremendous forgiveness shown by the father; not just forgiveness and “we’ll let bygones be bygones” but the outpouring of love by the father to a son who had doen everything possible to cut himself off from the family.

 

[1ke]

No, they should not boycott the wedding of the person who is in the right.

They should be ashamed of even thinking of “supporting” the person who is an adulterous, invalidly married apostate with such a childish action.

Guess what? It is the bride and grooms perogative to invite whomever they choose. No one is entitled to be invited to an event.

 

[1ke]

In part the nephew may be attempting to call the whole family’s attention to the loving corrections that did NOT occur six years ago to the wayward uncle’s detriment.

This brings up another question to me… how should the family, in general respond to the wayward uncle and his spouse? Should this marriage be recognized as valid by the family?

It’s not a valid marriage. He is publically committing adultery.

Pretending it is valid doesn’t make it so.

 

[1ke]

This whole situation has gone from bad to worse.

Apparently a priest was asked his opinion and he said that either they all go to the wedding or none go. I do not know if the entire history of the situation was relayed to the priest or not.
.

Guess what? The piest doesn’t get to make the guest list either.

 

[gmarie21]

This brings up another question to me… how should the family, in general respond to the wayward uncle and his spouse? Should this marriage be recognized as valid by the family?

Well, I still love my dad and step mom, yet their marriage is of the same reasons as "A"s and my dad has yet to be outwardly remorseful. My step-mom asked my forgiveness years ago when I was a teen. However, they are still married (in the eyes of the world). I have stated in subtle and not-so-subtle ways about the state of their marriage in the eyes of the Church when conversations lead to that (like when they ask why my dd’s dad and I don’t live together, even though the way of the world states that we should get married and have more children and not wait until he hears from the tribunal). All I can do is use the consequences of my past sins as an example of how to take the right road. However, if a tribunal states that my dd’s dad’s marriage (former marriage in the eyes of the world) is valid then we have another obstacle to face, whether or not to live as brother and sister, in separate bedrooms, letting everyone know that we’re living as brother and sister, so that our dd can have both of us full time or decide to live seperately and have our dd have a “weekend” dad.

 

[CCM08]

IMHO, it’s no one’s business who is and who is not invited to a wedding save for the people getting married and the people financing it. If the nephew is uncomfortable inviting his uncle that is his decision.

 

[Foxfire2]

The wedding took place. All of the family came to the wedding (with the exception of the uncle and his new wife who were not invited). The ex-aunt also went. The family also went to the reception. They stayed at a different hotel than the one the groom arranged for his family to stay in but other than that everyone put on a good ‘face’ for the event.

The emotions over this are running high. The uncle has been extremely upset, angry and hurt at not being invited and because the family did not boycot on his behalf. I believe there will be repercussions down the line within this family.

Your prayers and thoughts are appreciated.

 

[ltbpoe43]

With time and prayer - most divisions will heal.

Good luck and God Bless. Many families share this same story.