Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘Round The Old Oak Tree - Family Reflection Video

In 1973, Tony Orlando recorded the song, “Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘Round The Old Oak Tree.” It became the number one hit record for the year, became Tony Orlando’s theme song and grew into an American anthem of hope and homecoming. We have used it (and its yellow ribbon symbol) to welcome home soldiers, POW’s, MIA’s, Iran hostages, and lost children.  

A young man is on a train. He seems deeply troubled, nervous, anxious, afraid, fighting back tears. An older man seated beside him senses that something is wrong, and asks the younger man if he is all right. The young man, needing to talk, blurts out his story: Three years before, after an argument with his father one evening, the young man had run away from home! He had chased back and forth across the country looking for freedom and happiness and with every passing day had become more miserable. Finally, it dawned on him that more than anything he wanted to go home. Home was where he wanted to be, but he didn’t know how his parents felt about him now. After all, he had hurt them deeply. He had said some cruel, callous things to his father. He had left an arrogant note on his pillow. He wouldn’t blame them if they never wanted to see him again. He had written ahead that he would be passing by their back yard on the afternoon train on this day and if they forgave him, if they wanted to see him, if they wanted him to come home, they should tie a white ribbon on the crab apple tree in the back yard. If the white ribbon were there, he would get off the train and come home; if not, he would stay on the train and stay out of their lives forever. 

Just as the young man finished his story, the train began to slow down as it pulled into the town where his family lived. Tension was high, so much so that the young man couldn’t bear to look. The older man said: “I’ll watch for you. You put your head down and relax; close your eyes. I’ll watch for you.” As they came to the old home place, the older man looked and then touched the young man excitedly on the shoulder and said: “Look, son, look! You can go home! You can go home! There’s a white ribbon on every branch!” — Isn’t that a great story?

The truth is: that powerful story is simply a modern re-telling of the greatest short story in history, namely, Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son.  

• Father Willy's inspirational homily was recorded live this morning during Mass at the Father Peyton Center. Please view the video on our Facebook page. (You don't need a Facebook account to view.) 

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