Luke 15:23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Which calf does He designate as well-nourished? Which one? The calf that the virgin Mary brought forth. Bring forth the calf that is untamed, that has not borne the weight of sin, pure and from the Virgin (born), following those who heed Him, not out of necessity, but willingly; that does not rely on force or horns, but willingly yields its neck to those who aim to sacrifice Him. Thus, offer up the one who submits willingly to be slain; offer up the one who grants life to those who have perished; offer up the one who is sacrificed yet lives; offer up the one who is torn apart and sanctifies those who dismember Him; offer up the one who is savored by those who truly know Him and remains undestroyed; offer up the one who blesses those who partake of Him.

Let us bring forth a calf that has been well-fed, slaughter it, and celebrate with feasting and joy! It is not challenging to comprehend who the ‘well-fed calf’ is that will be offered and consumed. He is undoubtedly the true Son of God. As a man, He donned a nature that was inherently unwise and akin to livestock, yet He infused it with His divine qualities, which is why He is referred to as the Taurus. This Taurus has not borne the burden of sin's law but is indeed ‘fattened,’ as He was destined for this Holy Sacrament ‘before the foundation of the world’ (1 Pet. 1:20). While what follows may seem profound, it is essential to articulate it. The bread we break resembles wheat in its form, earning it the designation of wheat-fed; spiritually, it is the Flesh, and therefore can also be called Taurus. Thus, the Taurus and the fat are fundamentally the same.

The fatted calf, offered for the redemption of those who repent, represents the Savior Himself, through whose body we find sustenance daily and by whose blood we are sustained continually. You, dear reader, comprehend with me how abundantly we express our praises to Him, declaring, I will treasure the good word in my heart, I will proclaim my deeds to the King (Psalms 44:1); although some interpret this more speculatively than accurately, failing to grasp that this passage (i.e., Psalms 44:1) is articulated in reference to the Father.

A well-nourished bull is offered as a sacrifice so that the Son may partake in the divine essence, rich in spiritual grace, supported by participation in the holy sacrament. Only those who possess the reverence for God, which marks the beginning of wisdom, can engage in the heavenly Sacraments, as stated in Psalm 110:10 and Proverbs 9:10. To partake in this, one must retain or receive the spiritual seal, possibly referring to the anointing of the Holy Spirit during Baptism. God has marked with a seal the one who possesses the sacred ring, encompassing the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The image of the Father is embodied in Christ, who has bestowed the Spirit’s assurance in our hearts, as seen in 2 Corinthians 1:22 and 2 Corinthians 4:4.

Prepare the calf that has been nourished and sacrifice it. This calf symbolizes the sacred body of Christ; it represents the calf as He was free from the burden of sin and the fatted calf since He was filled with virtues and designated for the redemption of transgressors. Let us feast and rejoice! His declaration that He will partake signifies His participation in this celebration.

Ikos 8 For the sake of Him who has fallen, sacrifice him as I instructed you, the unblemished Calf, from the pure Heifer, who stood firm against the burdens of sin and followed those who led Him. He will not resist the knife; rather, He will willingly bow His neck to the executioners. Lead to the altar the Giver of Life, who was slain yet did not succumb to death, who is in the depths, yet lives eternally: so that we may partake of Him with great joy: My son was lost, but now he is found; I cherish him, O Lord and Sovereign of all ages.

He invites us to prepare a choice calf, to sacrifice it, and present it as nourishment. This calf symbolizes the Lord Himself, who emerges from the divine mystery and His exalted throne, becoming incarnate and taking the form of a calf, slain for our transgressions, and offered to us as the Bread of life. Furthermore, God orchestrates a shared celebration and feast with His Saints, in profound humility embracing our human condition and proclaiming, "Come, let us eat, let us rejoice."

In the third parable concerning the wayward son, this concept is articulated with particular clarity, where the younger son symbolizes the tax collectors, while the elder son, preoccupied with his own righteousness, represents the Pharisees.

And then, in an instant, he regains his clarity; he realizes his condition, resolves to abandon his sinful ways, and earnestly seeks God's forgiveness, even under the harshest circumstances. As soon as a flicker of hope arises within the sinner's darkened soul for God's mercy and the will to repent, the Lord approaches him, further illuminating this spiritual readiness with His grace. Once the sinner has fully returned to his heavenly Father, the Lord generously bestows upon him His gifts, both spiritual and physical, to restore what was forfeited during his wayward life. This transformation brings immense joy to God and the angels.

He arose and journeyed back to his father. When his father saw his son coming toward him in his tattered clothing, he instantly recognized the situation, felt compassion for him, and did not wait for his son to reach him and humbly seek forgiveness. Instead, he ran to meet him, embraced him, fell upon his neck, and kissed him. Then he instructed his servants to bring out the finest robe and prepare a feast, proclaiming, "Let us eat and be merry! For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." And they began to celebrate (Luke 15:23-24).

Feeling hungry, filthy, and in tattered clothing, he ‘arose and went to his father.’ He was already close to his homeland, yet every recognizable hill and spring served as a painful reminder of his downfall. How much more might he dread encountering the familiar faces of those who would witness his pitiable state! What might his father and brother think? Yet the father’s heart sensed the arrival of his wayward son. ‘And when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion on him; and running to him, he fell on his neck and kissed him.