Last Sunday night former Hollywood actor Frank Runyeon, who starred opposite Meg Ryan in As the World Turns from 1980-87 as well as in many movies,played the Apostle Matthew preaching Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount teaching. He was theatrically powerful, gave a wonderful message and the crowd found the evening very enlightening and enjoyable.

The message he provided was powerful and timely. It centered on Christ’s teaching on what brings true happiness in life as well as highlighting how powerfully God loves us—and what He hopes for our lives. It explained why suffering exists and how we overcome it and move ahead.

Mr. Runyeon explained the eight Beatitudes (Latin for blessings) and three new “modern beatitudes” which the world of Hollywood and commercialism predicts makes us “happy.” The new “beatitudes” focus on three segments of humanity: children, young women and men.

More than 140 Confirmation candidates were in attendance and the church was packed with many other parishioners. However, I have to admit, I was saddened to see that the many of the parents of the Confirmation students were not there. I saw them lined up in the parking lot afterwards. They missed a wonderful message directed right at them, their children and the family. One that would have given them great hope and power as they guide their children’s future. It was a message that would have done three things for them as parents: (1) that their children’s happiness doesn’t come from West Farms Mall or Online; (2) that the primary parental role is not simply to build their child’s academic or corporate success; and, (2) that parent’s who role modeled faith and hope in God provide a great source of strength for their children’s future happiness.

My point here is that our world calls us to tell our children that they are special—special athletes, special students—destined to be the top. And yes, they are special. But not because of sports-, academic-, business- or political-acumen, rather they are special because God made them in His likeness and image and loves them beyond all telling—even more than you, their parents, can love them. And yet society tells them everything else comes first—wealth, power, privilege, and sports. When we know in our hearts that the money will pass to others when we die, cor-porate or political power will transition to someone else when we die, fame will only last as long as the one or two day news cycle, and the sports equipment will rust in the garage. But the immortal and invaluable soul goes on forever. The Beatitudes give us a wonderful blue print for living the Christian life and aknowledge of why we were created.

This Advent season may we all take a break from the hectic season and focus on what really matters, what truly lasts—not the glitz and glamour of the moment, but rather the eternal light that never goes out, a light that is lit and powered by spiritual knowledge and wisdom, fueled by His Love and found imbedded in the Beatitudes lived out.