---

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK
Jesus, help me remember to always give a hand to kids in the grades behind me! Amen.

"I am the living bread from heaven," Jesus told a crowd. "Whoever eats this bread will live forever. Just as my Father sent me and gave me life, anyone who feeds on me will live."

It's graduation time! Most kids, even if you aren't graduating from school, are moving up a grade. You may be changing teachers or classrooms. In some way, everyone "graduates" at the end of each school year.

When you look at kids younger than you, it's amazing to think they still have to do things you've already accomplished! You may feel jealous that they have a fun year ahead with your old teacher, or feel sorry for them because you're done with work that still lies ahead for them.

This week's Gospel (John 6:51-58) is about looking back and looking ahead. Jesus calls Himself "living bread from heaven," meaning that, when people receive communion, the bread and wine have become the body and blood of Jesus, even though they still look like food.

Jesus says that God the Father sent Him from heaven to teach about God. He's explaining everything so His followers can go on to teach others. That's like a kid at the end of the school year, looking at younger students who will have to learn everything in the grade you just finished.

When you look back on this year, much has changed. You've done work you never imagined doing. You've learned new things. You look older than you did a year ago.

Jesus wanted people to change in other ways, too. When we go to communion, He said, we're accepting God into our lives. That means praying, trying to be good and working to make up for mistakes.

Jesus came from heaven, taught people about God and reminded them to keep that message going. As the school year ends, what are you looking back at? What's ahead? How will you help other kids in the grades behind you?[[In-content Ad]]

---