Don't fall asleep

It's hard to sleep when your parents aren't home. If they go out and leave you with a babysitter, you probably don't want to go to bed until they're back!

Jesus would understand why you're a little nervous. When you get used to having someone around, you don't like it when things change. In this week's Gospel (Luke 12:35-40), He talks about waiting for someone else to come home God.

Be like servants waiting for their master to come home, Jesus said. Blessed are the servants who are awake and waiting when their master comes home, even if it's very late. He'll have them sit down, and he'll wait on them! So be ready, because you don't know when I'll be coming back.

Your parents probably don't go out every night and have someone else take care of you. It's weird to go to bed when your mom's not reminding you to brush your teeth before they grow fungus, or your dad's not singing, Good night! like he always does.

In the Gospel story, Jesus knew He wouldn't be around as a person forever. He'd go back to heaven and then come back someday, a long time in the future, when the world ended. He knew it would be weird for people at first, not having Him around.

After your parents are gone a while, you probably get used to it. You play with the babysitter and have fun, and forget you were ever scared. Just like that, Jesus worried people would forget about Him coming back!

Jesus reminded people to stay awake to be like a servant waiting for a master to come home, or kids waiting up for their parents to get home. Jesus hoped everyone would be as good as they could, so when He came back, it would be an even happier time than when your parents come home!

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK: Jesus, help me be good and ready for you when you come back someday! Amen.