God Runs to Us

Stories about runners abound in the Bible.

When King David’s son was killed in battle, a messenger named Ahimaaz ran to tell David the news (2 Samuel 18:19-27). In the Garden of Gethsemane, a crowd armed with swords and clubs came to capture Jesus; in the melee, they grabbed one of his followers by his linen garment and the young man ran away naked (Mark 14:51). A few days later, John outran Peter in a rush to see the empty tomb (John 20:4).

My favorite runner in the Bible is the prodigal son’s father. In Jesus’s parable, the lost son has squandered his inheritance and hit rock bottom. He decides to return home. He has rehearsed his apology and probably expects to be greeted by his father’s wrath. Instead, when the father spots his son far in the distance, he bolts toward him.

“He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.” (Luke 15:20).

What an image. The father could have (rightfully) sat back and waited for his son to arrive, making him grovel for forgiveness. He could have sent servants to tell his son to turn around and never come back. But the father’s heart is too filled with love for that. Not only does he welcome his son back happily, he literally runs to embrace him.

Jesus told his disciples this parable because it’s how God relates to us.

When we reject God, fall away, or sin, we feel tempted to avoid God. We assume he’s angry with us. Nothing could be further from the truth. Not only is he waiting for us to return to him, he runs to meet us on our way. He himself closes the distance between us.

Anyone can return to God at any time. But for Catholics, this happens uniquely in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Church has graciously provided a means for us to reconcile with our father by confessing our sins to a priest. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9).

Some wonder why we can’t just confess our sins privately and directly to God. We can. But the Church has provided a healthier way. When we confess out loud to a priest, we acknowledge that our sin does not affect us alone. We’ve sinned against the community. The priest, as a representative of Christ and the Christian community, can then offer us absolution.

There is something immensely healing in hearing out loud that we have been forgiven. “Through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Are there any more beautiful and freeing words than these? Confession to a priest is medicine for the mind and soul.

When we run to confession, we find that God has already beat us there. God is a runner too.

The Church classifies two sacraments as sacraments of healing: the anointing of the sick and reconciliation. It’s easy to think going to confession is about making us holy and more virtuous. And it is about that. But according to the Church, the primary purpose of the sacrament is to heal us. God wants us to be well. 

When we run to confession, we find God already waiting. As Pope Francis said, “We stand before a God who knows our sins, our betrayals, our denials, our wretchedness. And yet he is there waiting for us, ready to give himself completely to us, to lift us up.”

So, if you’ve sinned and need to confess, go as soon as you can. Don’t walk. Run. Like John outrunning Peter to the empty tomb, God has already beat you there. God is a runner too. And he runs to me and you.