Bug Jesus, bother God

Every kid tries the same thing to get something you really want: Bug your parents. Even if your mom says you can't have cereals with sugar in them, she might change her mind after you ask a million times for Frosted Sugar Pops!

Jesus said that God is the same way: If we bug God enough about something really important to us, God will help. In this week's Gospel (Luke 18:1-8), Jesus talks about that.

Jesus taught His disciples a story to help them remember to pray: "A woman went to a judge over and over again to help her win against someone in court. The judge finally decided, `She'll bother me forever unless I help her!' So he did. Just like that, won't God help you when you ask over and over? I tell you, God will help."

If you ask your parents for something just once, they probably don't pay attention. You see a candy bar in a store and say, "Can I have that?" They say no, and you go home.

God can be like your parents. If you don't like someone at school and ask God one time to help change that, but you keep acting mean to the person, God sees that you don't really want what you're asking for. You didn't even keep praying about the problem or try to change it.

When you REALLY want something, you don't forget about it when your parents say no. You ask and ask, hoping that if you bug them enough, they'll give in. Sometimes, that works!

Jesus reminded the disciples -- and us -- to do that with God. If you want something to change, prove how much you want it! Keep talking to God about it, and try to fix the problem yourself.

The judge in Jesus' story is really God, who says about our problems, "This person really means what they say. I'd better answer their prayers!" Even if God's answer isn't the one we want, Jesus promises one thing: God will pay attention and help us!

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK: Jesus, teach me to bug you for help with everything! Amen.