Recreation and the careful Christian

(STM)- In a  homily on February 18, 1907, St Tikhon of Moscow uses the Parable of the Prodigal Son to guide us in the right use of recreation as Christians...

A certain man had two sons, and the younger of them told the father, 'Give me the portion of goods that falleth to me'” (Luke 15:11-12). The younger son felt an overabundance of strength; he wanted to put it to use in action; he wanted to live independently, freely, without guardianship, without restrictions, which might have been at times set unnecessarily by the old father. And this kind of aspiration by the young son alone by itself did not contain anything reproachful. It was acceptable; but as one might expect, it did not turn out to be beneficial. Having nobody to restrain him, held back by no one, far from the loving parental eye, the wealthy young man squandered all of his estate by living lasciviously. Friends, wine, and women drove him into miserable poverty. While the money lasted he partied constantly, and then he had to tend to pigs.

Perhaps some of his delights were permissible, but within proper boundaries. The Word of God does not condemn earthly pleasures: “eat thy bread with joy” says the Most Wise, “and drink thy wine with a merry heart, for God now accepteth thy works. Let thy garments be always white and let thy head lack no ointment; live joyfully with the wife whom thou loveth” (Eccl. 9:7-9) and whom He has given to thee. “Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth and let thy heart cheer thee in thy youth while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh when thou shalt say, 'I have no pleasure in them.' But know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment” (Eccl. 11:9 and 12:1).

Pure delights and innocent pleasures are quite permissible for a Christian, for they brighten the bitterness of life. But if someone makes them the entire purpose of his life, makes them his goal, and lives only to eat, drink, and party, giving himself to them at all times, then this person is a slave of his passions and a lost man, and the same sorrowful lot awaits him as that of the prodigal son.

And thus the Holy Church, with the sermon of Christ about the prodigal son as well as with the words of the holy Apostle Paul, wishes to warn us and teach us the right use of pleasures and the right exercise of freedom. “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any” (1 Cor. 6:12). “For, brethren, we have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another“ (Gal. 5:13).