A Higher Feast

Καὶ ἐνέγκαντες τὸν μόσκον τὸν σιτευτὸν καὶ φαγόντες εὐφρανθώμεν. Εἰ δὲ χρὴ τὸν τόπον καὶ ὑψηλότερον θεωρῆσαι, προκατάρχεται λόγων, ἠθικῶν μὲν, οἶον τροφῆς, ἐν τῷ φαγόντες, ἐποπτικῶν δὲ, οἶον ποτοῦ, ἐν τῷ εὐφρανθῶμεν. Οἶνος γὰρ ἀρχὴ εὐφροσύνης, ὡς γέγραπται. Ὠριγένης, Εἰς Το Κατα Λουκαν Εὐαγγελιον, Κεφ ΙΕ'

And bringing out the fattened calf, eating they made merry. 1   If one wishes to contemplate this passage in a more sublime sense, have words and morals for the food when it says 'eating', and knowledge of the mysteries as the drink when it says 'they made merry.' Certainly wine is the beginning of joy, as it is written. 2 Origen, Commentary On Luke, Chap 15, Fragment 1 Lk 15. 23 2 Sirach 31.35