Luke 15:17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

“How many of my father’s hired servants have an abundance of bread, but I am perishing from hunger?” The Holy Scriptures regard as sons those who are wholly dedicated to righteousness, while those who lack complete commitment to virtue, living without the guidance of God’s will, are referred to as hired hands. Though they may recognize goodness and appreciate the teachings, they do not wholly commit themselves to it. To these individuals, who possess a general inclination toward godliness but lack fervent love, God provides according to their spiritual condition. Hence, he rightly states, “How many of my father’s hired servants have enough to eat, yet I am starving.”

Reflecting on the parable of the lost son, on repentance, on the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and on the robber, we consider the insights attributed to St. John Chrysostom. How many who are engaged in the sacred texts are now enjoying divine wisdom, while I find myself burdened by the weight of holy words? How many blessings have I forfeited? How many trials have I invited upon myself? Why have I abandoned my state of bliss? Why have I cast myself into this destructive existence? All that I have endured serves as a lesson, teaching me not to turn away from God; I have learned to cling to Him who eternally upholds those who remain steadfast. I have become wise to the deceitful voices of unclean spirits that incite corruption and wickedness. In this reflection, we come full circle to the parable of the prodigal son, as captured in the works attributed to St. John Chrysostom.

These laborers, without doubt, will be nourished spiritually by engaging with the Word daily.

To differentiate between a laborer and a son, consider this: there are three types of those who are saved. Some, akin to servants, do good deeds out of fear of punishment. David hints at this when he states, "My flesh trembles for fear of Thee, and Thy judgments I fear" (Psalm 118:120). Others are laborers, who strive to please God out of the desire for blessings, as reflected in David’s words, "I have set my heart to do Thy statutes forever, to the end" (Psalms 118:112). The third category comprises the sons—those who observe God's commandments out of their love for Him, as David again attests, "How I love Thy law, I meditate upon it all day long" (Psalm 118:97). He further declares, "I will stretch out my hands to Thy commandments, which I have loved" (Ps. 118:48), indicating a love that goes beyond mere fear. Additionally, he proclaims, "Marvelous are Thy revelations; therefore, my soul keeps them" (Psalms 118:129).

Thus, when one who belonged to the family of sons loses that status through sin and observes others partaking in Divine gifts and engaging with the Sacraments and Spiritual nourishment—by referring to laborers, we can understand this to encompass not just the uninitiated, but also members of the Church who are not yet fully aligned—that individual should lament, "How many of my father's laborers have more than enough to eat, while I am perishing from hunger."

The faithful workers include individuals like Peter, John, and James, to whom the Lord beckoned: "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." They do not possess abundance in horns, but rather gather remnants of bread, collecting twelve baskets of leftovers. O Lord Jesus, if only You would take away our horns and grant us the bread! For You are the steward of the Father’s house. How fortunate we would be to serve as Your employees, even if we arrived late in the day. You also bring in those who labor in the eleventh hour and reward them with equal compensation—eternal life rather than mere glory. The crown of righteousness is reserved not for all, but for those who can affirm, "I have fought the good fight" (2 Tim. 4:7).

I cannot remain silent regarding this matter, as I know individuals who believe they can hold onto the grace of washing and repentance until their final moments. First, how can one be assured that their soul will not be claimed tonight? Secondly, what leads one to think that anything can be acquired without personal effort? The grace may be singular, the reward may be one, but the victory is distinct. Paul did not labor in vain when, having received the grace, he sought the prize, understanding that while grace is the same for all, the crown of victory is awarded to the few.

We have entered the Lord’s vineyard; let us not depart empty-handed. It is good to gather His fruit; it is good to witness His workers. What does it signify that labors are hired at different hours during the same day? It indicates that a thousand years in the Lord's view are as yesterday, which is past, and an hour of night (Ps. 89:4). What is the night but that which elapses when the day approaches? The hour of night is not happenstance; rather, a thousand years equate to a single day (2 Pet. 3:8). He who proclaimed, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Heb. 13:8) understood the significance of these days composed of many. He who inscribed, "This is the day of the creation of the heavens and the earth," on this day created everything, including every herb of the field (Gen. 2:4-5). After describing the seven days, He encompassed all creation within a single day, illustrating that the time experienced in this world is perceived by the Lord as if it were but one day, for the beauty of this world emerged from chaos upon the arrival of divine light. Thus, if all the time of this world is a single day, certainly its ages represent hours. And since there are twelve hours in a day, according to a sacramental view, that day embodies Christ, who has twelve apostles radiating heavenly light and endowed with diverse graces.

The master of the vineyard employed laborers at the first hour—perhaps those who were righteous from the dawn of creation until the flood, of whom God declared, "And I spoke unto you before daybreak, and sent unto you my servants the prophets before daybreak" (Jer. 25:3-4). The third hour, commencing after the flood, encompasses the time of Noah and other virtuous workers who were called to labor in the vineyard (as Noah partook of wine at the midday meal). The sixth hour recognizes the merits of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. By the ninth hour, as the world began to descend into twilight and the light of virtue appeared to diminish, the law and the prophets addressed the perverse actions of humanity. The profound and mysterious coming of the Lord culminated in the eleventh hour. Thus, He instructs in the Gospel: "Walk while you have the light" (John 12:35).

Hence, he expresses from the depths of his soul, "Oh, how many of my Father's servants not only partake in spiritual sustenance but also experience joy," as their abundance indicates, "and I, despite being a son, am famished." Through this heartfelt admission and the subsequent expressions, the Savior illustrates for us the essence of authentic repentance.

It was only when he faced utter desperation, to the point of starvation, that he recalled his father and resolved in his heart, saying: "I will arise and go to my father and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you’" (Luke 15:18). So, he got up and went to his father.

How frequently do we distance ourselves from God, feeling undeserving of His forgiveness due to the weight of our sins? How often do we protest, "My sins are too numerous for God to forgive, no matter how earnestly I pray; therefore, prayer is pointless." In this way, we project our inadequacies onto God: because we find it difficult to forgive others who have wronged us, we assume that God will likewise withhold His forgiveness. However, a thoughtful consideration of the parable of the Prodigal Son reveals the vastness of God’s love and boundless mercy. Let us contemplate this parable more frequently, and regardless of our transgressions, let us not succumb to despair; let us acknowledge the seriousness of our sins, turn away from our wicked ways, and remember that we have a Father who mourns for us and eagerly awaits our return to the path of righteousness. Let us declare: "I will go to my Father!" And let us approach Him with assurance, trusting in His mercy. While relying on God’s grace, let us also extend forgiveness to others who have wronged us, recalling the words of Jesus Christ: "If you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matthew 6:15). Let our forgiveness be offered not with bitterness, but with the joy that comes from recognizing that the one who has wronged us is aware of their fault and thus is on the verge of liberation, mirroring the joy with which the father welcomed back his wayward son.