The Prodigal Son & the Cost of Forgiveness | The Father Who Runs Toward Us

About this sermon

On this Sunday of the Prodigal Son, the Church places before us one of the most tender and challenging parables ever spoken by Christ. Far more than a story about a wayward son, this Gospel reveals the heart of the Father, the pain of broken relationships, and the costly, liberating power of forgiveness. In this Orthodox Christian homily, we explore: Why the younger son’s request was a deep relational betrayal How true repentance begins with truth, not excuses Why the father’s forgiveness comes before the apology is finished The hidden danger of the older son’s resentment Why forgiveness is essential preparation for Great Lent How resentment can hollow out even faithful religious life Why forgiveness does not erase justice, but transcends resentment This sermon also connects the Parable of the Prodigal Son to: Forgiveness Vespers The beginning of the Great Fast Family wounds, marriage struggles, and broken relationships Workplace conflicts and cultural outrage The call to live resurrection life now Christ reveals a Father who does not coerce obedience, but waits in love — and runs toward us when we turn back. This message challenges both the openly sinful and the quietly resentful, reminding us that resurrection life begins with forgiveness. As we prepare for Great Lent, this homily calls each of us to ask: Where am I in the story — the prodigal, the older son, or the father? 📖 “Let us call brethren, even those who hate us, and in the resurrection forgive everything.” 0:00 Opening Prayer 0:14 Sunday of the Prodigal Son Introduced 0:44 The Pain of Broken Relationships 1:02 The Younger Son’s Offensive Request 1:11 God’s Love Does Not Coerce 1:30 The Cost of Sin: Hunger & Humiliation 1:38 Truth as the Beginning of Forgiveness 2:05 The Father’s Radical Response 2:15 Forgiveness Before the Apology 2:29 Divine Forgiveness Explained 2:59 The Older Son’s Hidden Resentment 3:32 Why Forgiveness Feels Unfair 4:08 Forgiveness vs. Resentment 4:21 The Modern World’s Grudge Culture 4:45 What Forgiveness Looks Like Today 5:19 Parents Waiting Like the Father 5:38 Forgiveness Beyond the Family 5:59 When Forgiveness Does Not Mean Reconciliation 6:25 Forgiveness as Grace, Not Willpower 6:41 Preparing for Great Lent 6:55 Forgiveness Vespers Explained 7:30 Resurrection Begins With Forgiveness 7:56 The Two Sons, One Healing Father 8:03 Where Are We in the Parable? 8:37 The Father’s House Is Still Open 8:48 A Call to Forgive Before the Fast 9:09 Rejoicing When Mercy Triumphs 9:21 Closing Prayer For more please visit https://www.youtube.com/@st.johnchrysostombyzantine2197 & say 3 Hail Marys for the priest 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 Support Catholic Businesses here - https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ Sensus Fidelium Press - https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ Sensus Fidelium Apps - https://sensusfidelium.tv/ Support Sensus Fidelium - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 🙏🏻PLEASE HELP OUR CHANNEL GROW 🙏🏻 ▶️ 1. Become a Channel Patron: https://www.patreon.com/SensusFidelium ▶️ 2. Visit the website https://www.sensusfidelium.us for Gueranger, Saint of the Day, Apologetics, Meditation by the Saints, Scripture Study and more. ▶️ 3. Subscribe to Other Video Platforms 🔴 BitChute --- https://www.bitchute.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium/ 🔴 Rumble --- https://rumble.com/c/c-298311 🔴 My Catholic Tube - https://mycatholictube.com/videos/sensus-fidelium-channel/ 🔴 LBRY.tv --- https://lbry.tv/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 ODYSEE - https://odysee.com/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 UGETube - https://videos.utahgunexchange.com/@Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 BrandNewTube - https://brandnewtube.com/@SensusFidelium 🔴 GloriaTV - https://gloria.tv/Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 Brighteon - https://www.brighteon.com/channels/sensusfidelium ▶️ 4. Paypal, Bitcoin, Anedot, Stripe, Square & PO Box donations - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ ▶️ 5. YouTube: Click Subscribe, then Click "Notification Bell" = 🔔 ▶️ 6. Please share this video 📲, and help others find Christ inside the Catholic Church! Please share this video on Facebook and Twitter using the share button. ▶️ 7. Follow on Social Media: 🔴 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SensusFidelium/ 🔴 Twitter: https://https://twitter.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 Parler: https://parler.com/profile/Sensusfidelium/posts 🔴 SP3RN: https://www.sp3rn.com/community/pages/14-sensus-fidelium 🔴 GAB: https://gab.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 Bastyon: https://bastyon.com/sensusfidelium 🔴 GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/sensus_fidelium 🔴 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/sensusfidelium/ 🔴 Telegram: https//t.me/RealSensusFidelium ▶️ 8. Follow on iTunes: 🔴 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sensus-fidelium-catholic-podcast/id1477010758 #ProdigalSon #OrthodoxChristianity #Forgiveness #GreatLent #OrthodoxSermon #ForgivenessVespers #Repentance #Resurrection #ChristianLiving #OrthodoxFaith

Topics

• Forgiveness
• Parenting