What are the consequences of sin? What does it matter that we sin if God will always forgive us? What is the point of repentance?
While there are many teachings to pick from this parable, what stood out to me the most were the themes of inheritance, compassion, and repentance. Sin is a word used in the Orthodox church to describe “missing the mark”.
My parish priest is often quick to point out that disobedience is the root of all sin. When we ponder on the nature of sin, we might think of something secret, dark, shameful, something that might hurt another, perhaps there’s a certain guilt that follows an action. Through the grace of our Lord, we have opportunities to shed light on the sin, shed light on the darkness. For instance, through confession is sin longer secret, no longer shameful and hidden and thus the shame is often largely removed. We can then proceed to have a constructive conversation about the sin. We work towards uncovering potential solutions with our spiritual father, then testing the solution with action. We return to the church as the prodigal son returns to the Father in this parable.
We can see God as the Father in this parable. He offers each of us an inheritance both physical and spiritual like no one else can, and yet we often see ourselves as both sons. Firstly, the prodigal when we waste the gifts, talents and blessings given to us and secondly, in our judgement, jealously and lack of compassion towards others, the elder son.
So, sin leads us away from communion with God, it is a misuse of our freedom. If Sin is missing the mark, repentance is re-aiming at the target. To turn around, change your way, get back on the path. Repentance is moving towards God, life with God, re-aligning our will with God’s will.
In Philippians St Paul writes: “be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God.”
This is repeated throughout the New Testament:
“Knock and the door shall be opened” Matthew 7:7
“Seek first the kingdom of God?” Matthew 6:33
God is always with us, ready to help us when we ask for it just like the father of the prodigal son. But not only do we need to ask, but rather actively participate in what he offers, even though often God does all the work. We need to take that one baby step towards Him and that is enough for him to sort out the rest. The prodigal son took a moment to reflect and remembered his father’s house. So, let’s stop here and reflect on a time when we personally took that step. What was happening? Why did you turn to God in that moment? How did He come to you or show you the way?
A small scale instance I can give personally is when after too much hesitation over a problem I am facing will finally turn to the Bible. I’ll flick open a random page and start reading. Very quickly I’ll often find that the first few passages I read are exactly what I needed. To me this is enough. It’s one way God shows me that He is always there and always ready to give me the answer. We need to seek, we need to knock, we need to pick up our Bible. Of course, I am speaking to myself foremost here too.
The most awesome part of this passage from St Luke's Gospel is when the father responds to the jealous older brother. “All that I have is yours,”. Some of the early fathers of the church will take that a step further and translate it to "all that I am is yours" meaning a possible reference to God's divinity. As St Athanasius says, “God became man, that man may become god” with a lowercase g.
We know that God alone is divine in essence. We can through Christ’s Incarnation, Death and Resurrection take on that gift through divine grace. It is important to consider that though we are unworthy of such a gift, we must strive, stay motivated and patiently endure in the hopes of earning such a prize. We first read about the Father’s inheritance, God’s gifts well before Luke's Gospel. In fact, the Old Testament is packed full of God’s promise. His covenants with Abraham, Noah, King David, Jacob and so on. God promises spiritual and physical inheritance.
One thing that makes this parable so important even today, is that God’s promise still stands. Yesterday today and tomorrow. This ties back to one of the first questions we asked. What does it matter that we sin if God will always forgive us? The last thought we might touch on would be in relation to the father in the parable. He shows mercy, He shows compassion. As Christians, we strive to be Christ like. Christ calls us to be truly Christians, not just in word but in deed. Does he desire that we become perfectly good and righteous? “The lord desires not the death of the sinner but that the ungodly should turn from his way and live.” Ezekiel 18:23. What he requires is our heart.
Oftentimes we imagine ourselves as the prodigal son in need. But let us flip it and imagine for a moment: when can you be the father? When can you show mercy and forgiveness? When can you ease the suffering of others? Opportunities are out there; you can take them. They’re yours. Maybe you’ll set aside some money for those less fortunate, maybe you’ll make time for someone who needs company. May we be the role models of compassion that Christ calls us to be, that leads others towards Gods’ house. Let us hear the Church’s call to repentance and may we rejoice when our brothers and sisters return home...Not be jealous or judgemental... There is room for all of us. In St John’s Gospel Christ says; “There are many rooms in my father's house... if it were not so why would I tell you it is.”
Let us be happy when we see others do well and share in God's love and grace. Amen.
The consequences of sin which is “missing the mark" in the Orthodox Church, include being separated from God and abuse of our freedom. Repentance is necessary to focus our aim back towards God and realign our will with his will. In the parable of the Prodigal Son, the Father offers an inheritance to both sons, but the sins of pride, disobedience and gluttony, lead to wasting gifts and lacking compassion. The Father shows mercy and compassion, and we are called to be Christ-like and show mercy to others. God's promise of inheritance and forgiveness to Abraham, still stands, but we must strive to earn such a prize. We must not always see ourselves as the son, but sometimes acting as the father in this parable as our Heavenly Father acts towards us: sometimes we must give not take and use the opportunities given to us to ease the suffering of others as role models of compassion.