Grace Makes Beauty Out of Ugly Things

Devotional Reflection, Wednesday, June 12, 2025

The week of Pentecost Sunday

The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.

Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading:

15:1Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’

. . . .

11 Then Jesus said, ‘There was a man who had two sons.

. . . .

20So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him

. . . .

28Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him.

(You will find the full text of The Parable of the Prodigal Son, today’s Gospel, at the end of this reflection.)

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 968)

AM Psalm 38; PM Psalm 119:25-48

Deut. 4:25-31; 2 Cor. 1:23-2:17; Luke 15:1-2,11-32

Today we celebrate the Feast of Barnabas. (See below.)

David’s Reflections

The hymn “Amazing Grace” has become a favorite piece for military bands and for bagpipes at graveside funeral ceremonies.  Today’s Gospel encapsulates amazing grace in one of Jesus’ best-known stories, the parable of the prodigal son and the angry older brother.  This parable brings to life a lyric from the band U 2, “Grace makes beauty out of ugly things.”+

Charles Cousar once described grace as ". . .  more than a doctrine;  it is an experience. . . . Grace . . . is not a 'thing,' or even a 'thing' God gives.  Rather, it describes the manner in which God gives (Godself) himself, the personal relationship (God) he establishes with (God’s) his people.  The word depicts the unmerited and unconditional way in which God has made and continues to make (God’s) his move toward sinful humanity." *

That phrase “the unmerited and unconditional way in which God has made and continues to make (God’s) his  move toward sinful humanity” struck me several years ago while reading this parable.  As a seminary teacher, I taught a course each year on Jesus’ parables.  One semester I was teaching classes on the parables and on Galatians and had my students using Cousar’s commentary.

In my seminary office a sparked jumped between that phrase and the parable.  The father went out to meet the prodigal younger son as he returned  home.  That father actually defied Oriental rules of decorum for a male, he ran in public to greet his returning son.  Later,  when the older brother raged outside about the party the father had thrown, that same father went out to the alienated, angry brother and enjoined him to come in and join the party. In both cases, the father made the first move.Even the younger son’s decision to return home was prompted by memories of the Father’s generosity. Grace involves God always making the first move toward us.

Jesus ate with the “prodigal children,” the outcasts and sinners to the disapproval of the religious leaders who had ostracized these very people from  religious circles and had heaped social disapproval on them.  According to this parable, God in Jesus was making his move toward both groups—toward the outcasts by eating with them and toward the religious leaders by the appeal of parables like  this one. And, Jesus dined with the religious leaders as well (See Luke 7 and Luke 14).

The religious leaders were caught in pride, a sinful state that revealed their  need for God, a need they shared with the outcasts they avoided and ostracized.

This parable functions  like a flashing light warning of a highway hazard.  It blinks in the face of our own  forms of elitism and pride.  God continues to make God’s move toward those despised and avoided and stigmatized, and at the same time  that same God makes that same kind of gracious move toward the contemptuous, seeking to deliver from contempt  and to unite them in community with those they despise.

U 2 captures the persistent, transforming power of grace in the lyrics of a song by that title.

“What once was hurt

What once was friction

What left a mark no longer stings

Because Grace makes beauty

Out of ugly things.” +

If we name the ugly things in our lives and entrust ourselves to God, can we believe that God’s grace will make beauty out of those ugly things? This parable says “yes” to that question.

*Charles B. Cousar,  Galatians:  Interpretation:  A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching.  (Richmond:  John Knox, 1982), pp. 8-9.

+ U 2 CD, “Grace” on the album "All that You Can't Leave Behind" [Universal International Music, 2000)

Collect of the Day:  The Day of Pentecost: Whitsunday

Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the

earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (BCP, 228)

Today we celebrate the Feast of Barnabas the Apostle.

http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Barnabas.htm

Collect of the Feast of Barnabas the Apostle

Grant, O God, that we may follow the example of thy faithful servant Barnabas, who, seeking not his own renown but the well-being of thy Church, gave generously of his life and substance for the relief of the poor and the spread of the Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Collect for Grace

Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 100)

For the Diocese

O God, by your grace you have called us in this Diocese to a goodly fellowship of faith. Bless our Bishop, Frank (Diocese of GA), our priest, and other clergy, and all our people. Grant that your Word may be truly preached and truly heard, your Sacraments faithfully administered and faithfully received. By your Spirit, fashion our lives according to the example of your Son, and grant that we may show the power of your love to all among whom we live; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.  (BCP, 817)

A Prayer for Light

O Lord God Almighty, as you have taught us to call the evening, the morning, and the noonday one day; and have made the sun to know its going down: Dispel the darkness of our hearts, that by your brightness we may know you to be the true God and eternal light, living and reigning for ever and ever. Amen.  (BCP, 110)

A Collect for Mission

Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen. (BCP, 101)

Daily Office Gospel, Luke 15:1-2,11-32

15:1Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’

11 Then Jesus said, ‘There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.” So he divided his property between them. 13A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17But when he came to himself he said, “How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.’” 20So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21Then the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” 22But the father said to his slaves, “Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!” And they began to celebrate. 25‘Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 27He replied, “Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.” 28Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 29But he answered his father, “Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!” 31Then the father said to him, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.”’

Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer

Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer

Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer

Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer 

Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer 

Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer

Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer