February 12th - Sunday of the Prodigal Son
Pre-Lenten Preparation - The Sunday of the the Prodigal Son is the 2nd Sunday of the Triodion.
Sunday of the Prodigal Son - The story is about a father and his two sons. The younger son asks his father for his share of the inheritance and takes it. He goes in a far away place and lives wastefully, until there is nothing left from his inheritance. When he finds himself broke, alone, miserable and in need, he goes to work for a man who raises swine; he is so hungry that he even craves the pig food. At some point he comes to his senses. He realizes what he lost at his father’s house, his pitiful situation and cries in repentance. Then he decides to return home to his father, asking him for forgiveness in the hopes that he will get a job as a servant.
He begins the long way back home. His father, who has been waiting for him, sees him from afar, runs to him, embraces and kisses him. He throws a big party to celebrate the return of his lost, and now found, son. When the older brother, upon returning from the fields, finds out what is happening, he becomes envious and angrily reproaches his father. The father emphasizes that the older brother has always been enjoying what the paternal home has to offer, and, instead of being jealous, he should also celebrate for the return of his lost younger brother.
Source: Orthodox Pebbles Lesson
Sample Discussion - Do you know why God gives us this story at the beginning of Lent? It is to remind us that we must turn and run back to God, just like the Prodigal Son did. God is always like this Father in the story: always loving, always waiting for us, always ready to give a great feast when we come back to Him. Sometimes we are like the son who goes very far away from his Father. This is what “prodigal” means; it means that a person has gone away from what is right and good. Do you ever do that? Let’s think of some ways that we might go away from God sometimes…. All these things are ways we can become like the Prodigal Son. As lent begins this year, let’s try to remember the ways that we have gone away from God this year. Then we think about the Father in this story and how good and generous he was. He was not angry with his son for going away. Instead of being angry, he forgave his son and made a big feast for him. This is how God is with us every time we come back to him. How do we come back to God when we have gone away from Him? We go to confession with our Priest. We tell him and God what we have done and we tell him that we want to come back. God always meets us with His arms outstretched, ready to forgive us and welcome us back to Him. Let’s pray that God will help us to come back to Him when we have gone away.
Activity Ideas:
Lesson Plan and Paper Puppets by Orthodox Pebbles - Everything you need to share the story of the Publican and the Pharisee is in this free printable packet! In this lesson you will find an icon worksheet, a cut-and-glue-craft, worksheets to help with the details of the story, symbolism and activities which you can find through this link HERE.
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Orthodox Pebbles Fabric Learning Set - As mentioned in the previous week, one of my favorite resources to teach a Biblical Story is through the fabric learning sets produced through Orthodox Pebbles. This Triodion set includes both the story of the Publican and the Pharisee and the Prodigal Son. It is hands-on, Orthodox-focused, interactive, and helps children better remember the story and meaning of these two parables of the Triodion period. You can purchase the DIY fabric HERE
Memorize a Prayer - O Lord, help me to be like the Prodigal Son. Help me to return to You when I have gone away. Amen
Listen to the Podcast Tending to the Garden of our Hearts on the Prodigal Son HERE. It’s a podcast for the whole family!
Listen to a Recording of the Story of the Prodigal Son told for Children on the Podcast Let us Attend HERE which is 4 minutes long
Color an Icon of the Story of the Prodigal Son