Jesus cheers us all

Jesus would understand feeling jealous. In this week's Gospel (Luke 15:1-32), He talks about two brothers -- one who does things well and doesn't get much attention for it, and another who messes up and gets lots!

"A man had two sons," Jesus said. "He gave them each some money. One stayed home, but the other ran away and spent his money. He got so poor he fed pigs to live. Finally, he went home to his father. `Father, I've sinned,' the boy said. `Don't call me your son.' But the father wouldn't listen: `Get him new clothes!' he cried. `Let's have a party!' The good son was angry that the bad one got a party. But the father told him, `You know I love you, but now we have to celebrate. Your brother was lost, and now he is found!'"

The older brother in Jesus' story felt like you. He worked hard on his father's farm, but his little brother ran away and wasted money -- and then, when he dragged himself home, he got a party!

You work in school is always important, even when grownups in your life forget that. You can be proud to get your homework done or read a hard book. But your little brother is doing those things for the first time, and he deserves to be cheered on, too.

That's just what the man in Jesus' story told his older son: that when someone who doesn't know how to act, learns how -- like your little brother learning to read, or the younger brother in the Gospel story learning to be good -- it's time to celebrate! Jesus wanted everyone to get a chance to shine.

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK: Jesus, help me cheer other people on! Amen.