A Good And Gracious Father

A GOOD AND GRACIOUS FATHER

a prayer to open

Open my eyes and help me to see you.

Open my heart and help me to know you.

Jesus, my Lord and my God.

Jesus [said,] “A man had two sons. The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.

“A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. . . . A great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. . . .

“When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’

“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’

“But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

“Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, and he asked one of the servants what was going on. ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’

“The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. Yet when this son of yours comes back . . . you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’

“His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’”

This is a story many of us know so well that we skip over words and perhaps don’t pay attention as we’re scanning through. Oh, but does it ever get old to see the father run to his wayward son? Imagine what it would have been like for the onlookers! Did they think something else would happen—an argument or a public shaming? Or did they know that running to his son was exactly what the father would do? Had they seen him around the house, in the yard, with his other son and the neighbors—gracious, good, forgiving, gentle, and joyous? The parable of the Prodigal Son is an amazing story of the way God welcomes the lost back home. But it’s also a compelling reminder about who God is: a gracious, good, forgiving, gentle, and joyous Father. Of course he runs to us!

• What ultimately drove the son to return to his father’s home? Reflect on what hunger drove you to turn to God.
• What desires in you remain unfulfilled as you seek to follow Jesus?
• What does today’s passage reveal to you about Jesus?

Father, thank you for only ever running toward me and welcoming me home. I was so lost and so confused. I was seduced by the world and all it promised and offered. But nothing ever satisfied or lasted. I was left with a deep hunger for something more, something permanent. As you begin to transform me and open my eyes to your presence and Kingdom, I could burst with gratitude. Please continue to guide me into your love. Amen.