Luke 15:21Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Referencing Luke 15:19, I acknowledge my sins and confess my wrongdoings, hiding nothing from Your sight, and denying nothing that You know; as I stand as a guilty party before You, a lawless being, I sentence myself: yet You, as the Divine Judge, grant me mercy. ‘I have sinned against heaven and before You!’ I shrink from looking toward heaven, fearing the sight of the celestial expanse that serves as the accuser’s voice; I hesitate to gaze upon the brightness of the divine presence, my heart’s eyes tainted. ‘I have sinned against heaven and before You, and am no longer worthy to be called Your son.’ In this moment, I betray myself, condemn my own actions, and declare judgment upon my soul.

He expresses his unworthiness to be regarded as a son, yet through the voice of creation and the inherent essence bestowed upon him by his father, he reverently proclaims the sacred title, saying, Father, we have sinned against heaven. Thus, it is futile for some to claim that only saints should address God as Father; for even someone who recognizes his unworthiness still calls God Father, possibly because he has wholeheartedly turned to Him.

The son reflected within himself, yet merely contemplating is insufficient until one reaches the Father. Where will you search for Him, and where will you encounter Him? First, rise up, you who have been sitting idle and in slumber. As the apostle urges, "Awake, you who sleep, and rise from the dead" (Eph. 5:14). Sinfulness rests upon a heavy foundation (see Zech. 5:7). Additionally, Moses received the command, "But you shall remain here" (Deut. 5:31). Christ selects those who stand. Therefore, arise and seek refuge in the Church; here, you will find the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

He expresses this truth from the depths of our being, teaching us that even after being reconciled, we are called to acknowledge with sincerity our transgressions and to condemn our own actions.

Upon hearing his words of sincere repentance, his father hurried out to meet him with even greater love than before. Without hesitation, he elevated him from his previous lowly status, restoring him to the noble position of a son, not settling for lesser blessings. Likewise, we should strive to advance, so that through the unending grace of love, we may rise to become true sons who honor all that belongs to the Father. In doing so, we can receive the image and likeness of our heavenly Father, and following the example of His beloved Son, declare, ‘All that the Father has is mine’ (John 16:15). The Holy Apostle reminds us that ‘all things are yours, whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or the present, or the future’ (1 Corinthians 3:21-22).

In a particularly vivid manner, this concept is illustrated in the third parable concerning the prodigal son, where the younger son symbolizes the tax collectors, while the elder son, engaged in his own righteousness, represents the Pharisees.

Suddenly, he becomes aware of his situation; he realizes his condition and resolves to abandon his sinful ways, seeking God's forgiveness even under the most stringent circumstances. As soon as there is a flicker of hope within the dark recesses of the sinner's soul for God's mercy, coupled with a sincere intent to repent, the Lord rushes to embrace him, further gracing this spiritual readiness. Once the sinner fully returns to his Heavenly Father, the Lord rewards him anew with both spiritual and physical blessings to compensate for what he lost during his sinful existence. This transformation brings immense joy to God and the angels.

He rose and journeyed back to his father. When the father saw his son coming, clad in tattered garments, he immediately recognized the situation, felt compassion for the distressed individual, and, not waiting for the son to reach him and sincerely ask for forgiveness, ran to embrace him, fell upon his neck, and kissed him. He then instructed that the best robe be put on him and a fatted calf be slaughtered, declaring a feast: let us celebrate! For this son of mine was dead and is alive again, lost and has been found. And they began to celebrate (Luke 15:23-24).

Hungry, dirty, and in tattered clothes, he ‘arose and went to his father.’ Approaching the vicinity of his homeland, every well-known hill and stream served as a painful reminder of his past; he felt an even deeper sense of fear and shame at the thought of encountering those familiar faces who might witness his current state of despair. What might his father and brother think? Yet the heart of his father instinctively sensed the arrival of his wayward son. ‘And when he was still far off, his father saw him and had compassion on him; and running to him, he embraced him and kissed him.

When he came to his senses, he reflected on how many of his father's hired hands had an abundance of bread, while he was perishing from hunger. He decided to rise and return to his father, saying, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am not worthy to be called your son. Treat me like one of your hired servants." So he got up and went back to his father. In the unfolding of the parable, while not every single detail possesses profound sacramental meaning, together they vividly and coherently illustrate the mercy of the heavenly Father towards the repentant sinner. This mercy not only restores what was lost due to sin but also bestows new gifts of grace.