The Sunday of the Prodigal Son (February 16, 2025)
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The Sunday of the Prodigal Son (February 16)
As we continue our journey toward Great Lent, this Sunday, the Church calls us to reflect on the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). This beautiful and deeply moving story reminds us of God’s boundless mercy and the call to repentance.
The younger son, having squandered his inheritance in a distant land, finds himself broken and destitute. In his lowest moment, he turns his heart back to his father, hoping only for a servant’s place. Yet, before he can even reach home, his father—filled with compassion—runs to embrace him, restoring him as his beloved son.
This parable is an invitation to each of us. No matter how far we may have strayed, God is always waiting with open arms, ready to welcome us back. It is a call to repentance, not out of fear, but out of love. The joy of the father in the parable mirrors the joy of our Heavenly Father when we turn to Him with a humble heart.
As we prepare for Great Lent, may this Sunday remind us that repentance is not about despair but about returning home—to a God who loves us beyond measure.
You can read more here: https://www.oca.org/reflections/fr.-steven-kostoff/the-prodigal-son-re-centering-until-our-last-breath