Getting God's attention

It feels like no one notices when you're good, because he's being so bad!

Jesus understood that. Lots of people who were good and followed God complained that the ones who didn't got more attention. In this week's Gospel (Luke 15:1-3,11-32), Jesus tells a story about it.

"A man had two sons," Jesus said. "One said, `Give me half your money.' Then he ran away and spent it all! He was so poor he had to clean pigpens. Finally, he went back and said, ashamed, `I don't deserve to be called your son. Treat me like a servant.' But his father hugged him and had a party! The other son was angry that his brother got attention after being bad, but his father said, `All I have is yours, but we had to celebrate. Your brother was lost, and now he's found!'"

The older son in Jesus' story must have felt that way. He was good while his brother ran away and wasted money, and it felt like no one cared! Everyone was too busy welcoming his brother back.

When one kid is in trouble, grownups can forget other kids need attention, too. In Jesus' story, the older son reminds his father that he needs just as much love. But the father says, "All I have is yours." He didn't forget the good son, just like the grownups don't really forget you. They just know if your brother's crying, he probably needs attention and doesn't know any other way to get it.

But you do -- just the way the brother did. Any time you need a grownup (or God) to notice you, all you have to do is ask.

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK: Jesus, help me ask for attention when I need it, instead of being bad to get it! Amen.