What does the evangelical parable of the Prodigal Son mean?
What does the evangelical parable of the Prodigal Son mean?
In one of the preparatory weeks for the saintGreat post the Orthodox Church remembers the evangelical parable, told by Christ, about the prodigal son. In this Gospel narrative one can find meaning for every person who aspires to God.
The Evangelist Luke narrates the parable of JesusChrist, in which the Savior tells of the prodigal son. One rich man had two sons. One day one of them decided to leave his father's house, asking his father for a part of his material means to inherit for existence. A loving father did not interfere with his son's desire, although the heart of the parent felt a sense of grief. The ungrateful son raised money and left the house.
In faraway countries the wicked son chiculated, howeverthe time has come when the money is over. The gospel character had nothing to eat, he did not have a shelter. And then the son remembered his father. He decided to return, repent and ask for forgiveness, hoping that his father would take him as one of his employees.
When the son approached his father's house, his father sawhe went out to meet him. The ungrateful son began to pray for forgiveness, saying that he was already unworthy to be called a son. A loving parent embraced his child, ordered the servants to prepare a feast, to slaughter the best calf, to clothe the young man in rich clothes. My father was glad that he had regained his lost son.
The second son of his father at this time came home and sawjubilation, which could not but cause bewilderment. He asked his parent about the event in honor of which event. After hearing the explanation, the son became indignant. He complained to his father that he was so kind to his wicked brother. However, the father calmed his child, explaining that the great joy is that the prodigal son has returned.
This parable is explained by the fact that God neverrejects sinners. Christ in another place of the gospel says that the joy in heaven is more about a single sinner repenting, rather than about the 99 righteous. Those people who try to live with God have the opportunity of constant improvement. They can be with their heavenly Creator, which in itself is a boon for man. And the sinner, turning his back on God, does not have such an opportunity. Therefore, when a person again finds his way to his heavenly Father through repentance and the desire to correct life, God accepts the sinner. It is God's will for man to abandon his sinful life and return to his heavenly homeland, for this is the manifestation of the free will of man in the pursuit of good.
Orthodoxy sees in the prodigal son of almost every person, because there are no people without sin. That is why the repentance of any person, according to the teachings of the Orthodox Church, causes joy in heaven.
