Our Holy Father St. Clement of Ohrid: Homily on the Prodigal Son
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Refer to: Luke 15, 11-32
Listen, beloved ones, to God’s story! And let us get into the habit of doing His will well! What a man-loving God we have, a merciful Father who creates and arranges everything for our salvation.
Just as someone who had a two sons, a righteous one and a sinner, and gave them both equal riches, likewise He (God) gave us baptism, repentance, and the gospel teaching. Nevertheless, we turn away from them like the younger son, and step far away from listening to God’s Church, thereby wasting God’s riches. By living in fornication, we receive the words of God and the Holy Communion in adultery, we live and dissipate (waste) the grace given to us by God, through evil deeds and sinful desires.
It is a sin when someone rejoices and condemns himself for ever from something small (passions): and if he rejoices for a short time, he will suffer forever.
However, the Lord God with His generosity will not despise His creation, but He awaits our salvation. Because He does not want anyone to submit to the devil, but He wants salvation for all, teaching us through these divine stories.
Let no one despair about his salvation, if he has many evils, but may he hasten towards salvation. These Lenten days bring us repentance with joy, because for us He (Christ) Himself, by fasting for forty days, gave us an example of purification from sins. Therefore, let us break free from those evil deeds and turn to the generous and merciful Father.
He is the Father of all equally and gives mercy to all equally. To all those who come to Him. Therefore, let us listen and awaken our hearts towards humility and our souls towards repentance. Let us shed tears like the former prostitute, let us beat our chest like the publican, and let us pronounce as the prodigal son did:
“Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you: theaters can be heard, there is shouting in the playgrounds, bad things are heard in the gatherings, fornication is revealed (perhaps St Clement was describing the “distant land”); I am not worthy to be called your son. I cannot look with my impure eyes to pure ones, towards the Holy of the Holies. I cannot approach your undefiled table myself, because I am defiled”.
So let us hear what is said: “Put on the first garment made by the fiery Spirit, in which the righteous shine!”
Second baptism and repentance are the ring on the hand and are the seal of the Holy Spirit. With them the angels cast out the evil spirits; the gospel teachings are the shoes on the feet, with them stamp on the serpent’s head.
Slaughter a fattened calf for them (Jesus Christ), cleanest among the clean, which they slaughter, but It does not die.
So may they rejoice with all the faithful, those who speak to the servants, the hierarchs and the priests: Oh, great mercy and untold kindness!
The One that even the angelic legions cannot look at, they slaughter for us! The One Whom the Many-eyed (Cherubim) cannot look at, is offered to us as a sacrifice! Sacrifice – eaten and not (fully) consumed!
Therefore, let us leave envy and enmity and all evil deeds and, with love and humility, let our fasting days pass and let us spend them clean and unblemished and approach the holy immaculate Table of the fatted Calf, of the immaculate Lamb – Lord Jesus Christ.
He gave Himself up to be slaughtered for the whole world. By eating Him, all the Saints repose in the Kingdom of Heaven. Let us also partake with them, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Eternal glory to Him, Amen.
Our Holy Father Saint Clement of Ohrid
