The Parable of the Returning Son and the Sinful Woman

After his return, he approached the one drawing near and leaned on his neck, shedding tears compassionately upon the neck; and instead of an athlete's reward, he made him blessed by clothing him in free garments, putting a ring on his hand, celebrating a feast, and preparing a splendid banquet.

All these things are a parabolic word, opening to those repenting that the church is a fatherly home received with goodwill, so that they are not fellow-dwellers with swine or the filthy, but are born again as sons of another, so that by the will of God they may live together as a father's purpose and with the holy men as brothers.

You, however, do not envy the mind of the elder brother, nor grumble at the father's philanthropy, because he even received the prodigal and the insolent one. Rather marvel at the goodness and imitate God's benevolence, and embrace and fall upon those returning from error; for thus you will be a guide to the blind and a teacher of the wanderers.

Regarding those practicing harshness of mind and cutting off mercy before compassion, enough has been said to us and nothing more is needed; but listen also, you who pray for a return, that it might be fitting for you to hover over sins and mourn the falls of the heart. Rather, if it seems good, consider the sinful woman read to us by Luke in our presence. Zeal for her humility and modesty, and take as a rule of repentance, having remained exact.

For coming to the house of the Pharisee, she neither reddened at the crowd of those dining, nor fled the time of the banquet as unseasonable for confession, but being seized by grief and having a fierce mourning for transgressions, she did not release the physician of sins even for a moment. Nor was she coming to entreat face-to-face, but interpreting through her appearance that which was unworthy of herself and outspoken, having grasped the place by her posture and not even standing simply, but falling on her feet, loosening her hair, and making public her mourning soul through her actions, pouring tears to the feet of Jesus with much compassion, she sought mercy; and pouring out so much that she even drenched the feet, and while wringing out her hair, she gathered up all the moisture with humble reverence.