Homework from Jesus

School can be fun, but you get tired of one thing: homework. Every time you want to do something fun after school, your parents say, "Have you finished your homework? Go do your homework. You can't go out to play 'til your homework is done."

When you have homework, you know how good it feels to finish it so you can do what you like. But everyone has work to finish before they can do fun stuff. In this week's Gospel (Luke 17:5-10), we learn about the Apostles' homework.

The Apostles asked Jesus, "Give us more faith." Jesus told them, "If you had faith the size of a tiny mustard seed, you could tell a mountain to move, and it would." Then He said, "If a servant came in from working, would his master say, `Sit and eat?' No, he'd tell the servant, `Wait on me, and then eat.' Just like that servant, you should do what you're told and then say, `It's only what I'm supposed to do."

The Apostles didn't like working sometimes, either. It took forever to get people to follow Jesus, so they wanted Jesus to zap them with extra faith so they could get that "homework" done faster.

Even if you totally hate homework, you know you have to do it. Kids in school have homework; it's a rule that everybody has to follow. But sometimes, you need your mom to bug you to get it done!

That's what Jesus did for the Apostles. When they complained about work, He said it was their job, just like a servant waiting on his master. He reminded them that they already had the faith they needed to do it, and (like doing homework makes you smarter) that they would get rewarded by being Jesus' friends.

The next time you're grumbling about homework, remember the Apostles. They didn't like homework, either, but they learned it was worth it. When they were done, they got a gold star on their papers: They went to heaven!

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK: Jesus, help me finish my homework -- and the work that you give me! Amen.

(10-01-98) [[In-content Ad]]