The Parable of Two Sons - the Prodigal and the Faithful
Sunday of the Prodigal Son
1 Corinthians 6:12-20; Luke 15:12-32
In the church calendar, this Sunday is called the Sunday of the prodigal son, but in fairness it must be said, although it mainly tells about the actions and concessions of the prodigal son, the Gospel story is about two sons: the prodigal, who, having left his father's house, wandered in different lands, led a sinful life, squandered his father's inheritance, and then, repenting, returned to his father's house, and about the second - the eldest son, who stayed at home and kept to his father's faith and instructions.
For the most part, the preaching and discussion on this day is about the younger son, but now I wish to draw your attention to the older son, because the majority of practising Christians, who attend services in church, has an attitude and a way of thinking similar to that of the older son.
The father (and probably also the mother) was so pleased with the return of that prodigal - spiritually lost - son that a banquet was arranged for him on that occasion. But the older son was angry at such a joyful reception for his younger brother, as it is noted in The Gospel: "And he was angry, and did not want to enter" (Luke 15:28).
In response to the persuasion of the moved and worried father, the eldest son replied:
"these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him." (Lk. 15:29-30)
That is, the older obedient son resented his father for the warm and rich acceptance of his younger, prodigal brother. He does not even call him a brother, but says, scolding his father: "But as soon as this son of yours came…".
The older son did not want his father's love to be so all-forgiving; he obviously wanted his father to meet his younger prodigal brother only with reproaches, insults and punishment.
And, if we judge only according strict formality, then perhaps that younger son deserved a harsh reaction, but beyond the prescriptions of the law there is also paternal and maternal love.
Parents do not like it when one of their children goes down the path of sin; they do not approve of their actions, but they are always joyful when children realize their wrong path and return to the way of salvation.
In our current circumstances, we have had to observe and experience an unfriendly and sometimes hostile attitude towards people who, after many years of wandering or standing aside, come or return to the Orthodox Church. Some of our long-time members don't like it when the priest shows more attention to those newly reappeared: “- And where were they 20 or 30 years ago, when we were building? And, yet, they come now, when it’s all finished...”
Let us respond with words of The Gospel from the parable:"It is necessary to rejoice and be glad", because those people were spiritually dead, but now they are alive, returning to their Heavenly Father. In our current state of affairs, there are indeed people who are spiritually dead, indifferent, and sometimes lost, who were in the backyards of various sects, and all of us, not only the priest, must show as much understanding and love as possible so that those people feel that they have come into the environment of people where the love of God reigns, which is able not to rebuke, but to forgive and rejoice in God.
Through our relationship with such people, we kindle in them love for our faith and our Church. Our faith should always be manifested most not in our rites, but in the manifestation of brotherly love. And the Lord Jesus Christ, speaking to his closest disciples, testified:
"By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35).
Our biggest mistake and sin would be if we were proud of our righteousness and merits and did not understand our brothers and sisters. We must learn to overcome self-love, selfishness, which prevent us from being caring to those closest to us.
Let us pay attention to the fact that in our time, many families are destroyed because one party sees only the negatives, faults of their partner. Yet people do not want to admit their guilt, their shortcomings. People go to great expense, hire lawyers, search for witnesses, just to slander as much as possible the person with whom they were united in love...
So let hatred and enmity never blind our eyes. Let the paternal love of the Heavenly Father be an example for us to follow; and it is shown in the parable - in the image of a loving and forgiving father who showed mercy and joy when the prodigal son returned to him.
Each of us can be more or less sinful before God, but we all hope for mercy and forgiveness from our Heavenly Father, to whom we turn daily in the Lord's prayer. The Lord testified that God's angels have great joy over one sinner who repents (Lk. 15:10). And whether by our life we are more like the lesser prodigal or the elder faithful son, we all need God's mercy and love.
Let us cultivate love and mercy in ourselves, so that we overcome our prejudices against our neighbours. The Lord said: "Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.” (Lk. 6:36) Let us fulfill that call of Christ and let us improve in our love for our brothers and sisters, let us be sinners, let us imitate our Heavenly Father:
"Love endures a long time, love is merciful, does not envy, does not boast, ... is not quick to anger, does not think evil, does not rejoice in untruth, but rejoices in the truth." (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).
Amen.
Very Rev. Fr. Taras Slavchenko
Taras Slavchenko was born on March 8, 1918 in Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk region in Ukraine. After graduating from school and the Pedagogical College, he entered the language and literature faculty of the Scientific Pedagogical Institute. Having successfully completed it in 1938, he served as a teacher in a secondary school.