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PRAYER FOR THE WEEK
Jesus, teach me to ask you for strength when I'm wondering how I'll get everything done by the end of the school year! Amen.

"It's written in the Scriptures that the Messiah is going to suffer and then rise from the dead," Jesus reminded the Apostles after His resurrection. "You're witnesses that this has happened." He blessed them and then went back to heaven, leaving them full of joy and worshipping God.

The end of the school year is closing in fast. This is the time when you're finishing things up: The project you've been working on for weeks is due; the school dance is coming up; you've clapped for your friends in the school play and started studying for big tests.

As you finish each thing, you feel relieved: One more piece of work (or even fun) is finished, and summer is getting closer! Then you look at everything you have left to do and sigh.

This week's Gospel (Luke 24:46-53) is about those kinds of endings and beginnings. Jesus has died and then come back to life at Easter, and He's now heading back to heaven for good. He gives the Apostles, His closest followers, some last reminders about everything that has happened and that they need to keep teaching people about Jesus after He's gone.

Jesus also says God the Father will give them strength. That's something you can ask for, too, as you work on projects and tests, go to dances and try to support your friends. Doing the work that's put in front of you is important, and God will help.

The Apostles realized that - and they also saw Jesus alive again, which gave them the enthusiasm to keep teaching about Him. Like you're heading for the end of the school year, they had reached the end of their time with Jesus - but they had great memories of being with Him, and they'd grown closer to God because of Him.

You'll get all your school stuff done, and you'll have great memories, too! And leaning on Jesus like the Apostles did will help you get through it all.[[In-content Ad]]

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