Picking a good seat

Apple-picking is the perfect way to spend a day in the fall -- and climbing the apple trees can be the best part! Anyone can pick an apple from the lowest branches; but to get the reddest, shiniest apples, you have to climb and reach a little.

Jesus' friends would have loved apple-picking. In this week's Gospel (Mark 10:35-45), two of the Apostles, James and John, tell Jesus they want to climb up to the best place they can think of: the seats next to Jesus in heaven.

James and John said to Jesus, "We want to sit at your left and right in heaven." Jesus said, "You'd have to suffer like me." "That's okay," they said. Jesus said, "Well, you will suffer like me, but I can't give you the best seats in heaven. Only my Father can decide that. Besides, if you want to be the best, you have to serve others like I do."

Apple-picking can be fun, but it's also work. You look around for the ripe, red apples, get dirty and scratched by bark as you climb the trees, and even feel a little scared of falling.

Following Jesus was hard work, too. To James and John, having great seats in heaven sounded like fun, but Jesus said they had to climb there. To sit with Jesus, they had to be laughed at for following Him, help other people and go to communion to remember Jesus. Sometimes, they'd feel as scared as a kid climbing an apple tree!

The best part of apple-picking is eating what you pick: biting into the best apple in your bag with a big CRUNCH. But you might have to wait until you get home to pour out your bag and find that apple.

James and John wanted to grab the best apple, too -- the best seats in heaven. But like you, Jesus said they had to wait 'til they went home to God to get what was best for them.

Just think: If Jesus went apple-picking with you, He'd probably give the best apple to someone who needed it more!

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK:

Jesus, help me remember that everything I do helps me climb up to you! Amen.