Jesus' sleep-over is over

Jesus, help me get comfortable with going to sleep-overs! Amen.

"If you love me, listen to my teachings," Jesus told the Apostles. "Then God will come and live in your heart. I'm leaving you soon to go back to heaven, but if you love me, don't be afraid. Remember, I'm going to be with my Father -- and the Holy Spirit will still be with you, even after I'm in heaven."

Sleep-overs are a big part of life for some kids. If a friend announces that he's going to have a bunch of kids over to watch movies, play video games and stay overnight, you get excited right away! Sleeping at another person's house seems very cool.

Of course, sometimes you miss home, or your family misses you. You might even secretly feel a little afraid to stay over at a friend's house, or your parents feel a little sad that you're growing up and you can do things like sleep-overs.

But you all know you'll be together again, and that everyone will be okay.

Describing this week's Gospel (John 14:23-29) is like describing a sleep-over. Jesus has been hanging out with His friends, the Apostles, for years now -- like a really long sleep-over! But it's time for Him to go home to heaven. The Apostles are scared and already missing Him.

Jesus has to remind them that sleep-overs don't last forever. People stay in different places during different times in their lives, and you always miss the people you're not with, but that doesn't mean you'll never see them again.

Jesus may have just "slept over" on Earth for a while, but He wanted us to know that we'll all get to stay at His place when we go to heaven someday!

He also said we shouldn't be afraid: Just like you and your family think about each other when you're at a sleep-over, Jesus always thinks of us and wants us to be safe and happy.