Septuagesima: The holy prodigal and the merciful father
"I'm always tired of it, but it always suits me; it always suits me, but here I am authorized under him".
Today is Sunday 12 February 2023, Divine Liturgy on the Sunday of the Prodigal by the Panosiologiotatos Fr., the chosen one of the "prodigal son", Sunday of the love of the tender Father. Second in Triodion, but first in prioritizing spiritual ones. The consciousness, repentance, the decision, Joy! The High Priest Commissioner of Delos and Mykonos, The Most Reverend p. Petros Maragos performed the Orthros and then the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Metropolitan Church of Megali Panagia, Mykonos town, with the prayerful presence of pious Mykonian believers.
"To the glory of your fatherland, you have secreted recklessly, I scattered among the bad ones, if you have given me wealth, then you have that of the Prodigal, I cry out with a voice; I am guilty before you, Father oictirmon; receive me penitents, and they wrote me, as one of your hirelings".
"Gospel in Gospel" characterized, the parable of the Prodigal Son. And this because it shows the fall of man and his apostasy from God, but also the love of God for the return and salvation of man.
The parable of the prodigal son is the entire Gospel of salvation. Condensation of the teaching of the four Gospels is the parable told by the divine Master, to teach God's great love for man; God is long-suffering and waits, he accepts and forgives the apostate man, where he repents and returns. We all should know this well, as the youngest son, they escaped from the divine guardianship and took the bad way, and those, like the elder, they believe how they are righteous and sinless. There is always the way back and there is always the debt of forgiveness. Above both the sinners and the righteous is God, Father of all, "he loves the righteous and persecutes sinners".
During the Divine Liturgy, His Holiness preached the divine word and referred to the Gospel passage about the prodigal, one of the most beautiful texts of the Gospel, pointed out to the believers the bottomless love of God towards man and the rich mercy of forgiveness, which he gives to those who repent, however sinful they may be. This parable together with the hymns of the day present to us repentance as the return of man from exile.
Below are images from the Divine Liturgy:
