Jesus forgives us

You did something terrible. You were mad at your sister, and you ripped up her Hanson poster. Or you hurt someone's feelings at school. No matter how much you say you're sorry, you can't take back what you did. You feel awful!

It might be hard for your sister or your classmate to forgive you, but it's easy for God. In this week's Gospel (Luke 15:1-32), Jesus tells a story that's really about God and us, and how much God wants to forgive us when we're really sorry.

"A man had two sons," Jesus said. "He gave them each some money. One stayed home, but the other ran away and spent his money. He got so poor he fed pigs to live. Finally, he went home to his father. `Father, I've sinned,' the boy said. `Don't call me your son.' But the father wouldn't listen: `Get him new clothes!' he cried. `Let's have a party!' The good son was angry that the bad one got a party. But the father told him, `You know I love you, but now we have to celebrate. Your brother was lost, and now he is found!'"

When you've made a mistake that hurt someone, you don't feel very good. If the person you hurt is still mad at you, it's even harder to forgive yourself, or believe God will!

The younger son in Jesus' story made a really big mistake. He wasted his father's money. He didn't feel very lovable, and he was scared that even his father wouldn't forgive him for being so bad.

You can't take back a mistake that hurts someone. Your sister's poster is gone, and the person whose feelings you hurt might not like you. But you can show how sorry you are and ask God and the person to forgive you -- and even if the person doesn't, God will.

That's what the boy in the story learned: There's nothing you can do that God won't forgive you for if you're sorry and want to be better. The father in the story was really God the Father, who didn't yell at the boy who goofed. Instead, he said, "Let's have a party! He saw that he was wrong, he's sorry and he's trying to make things better!" No matter how many mistakes we make, God loves us!

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK: Jesus, help me to ask for forgiveness when I make a mistake. Amen!

(09-10-98) [[In-content Ad]]