Wednesday: Mercy
Pray: Begin by making the sign of the cross and calling upon God’s name.
From God to us, from death to life, from me to you …
in the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Almighty God, you are kind and merciful. As we read and discuss our Bible story today, be present with us. Please draw us closer to you and to one another while we learn together. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Listen: Pay close attention as these verses from the Bible are read aloud.
Luke 15:15-19
He went to work for a man in that country, and the man sent him out to take care of his pigs. He would have been glad to eat what the pigs were eating, but no one gave him a thing. Finally, he came to his senses and said, “My father’s workers have plenty to eat, and here I am, starving to death! I will go to my father and say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against God in heaven and against you. I am no longer good enough to be called your son. Treat me like one of your workers.’” (CEV)
Engage: Talk about the Bible by having parents respond to children’s questions.
Child: What do pigs eat? How would their food have been different from what the younger son was used to eating?
Child: Why do you think the younger son felt he had sinned against both God and his father? How can confessing our sins actually bring us closer to God?
Affirm: Pray for God to put his Word into action in your daily life.
God of grace, it is hard to face our weaknesses, and to admit when we’ve done wrong. Yet you are a God of forgiveness! Help us to turn to you when we have made bad decisions, and to trust you with everything. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Have each person in the family bless one another with these words.
May you look to God for mercy and help! Amen.