We're on God's menu

Jesus, help me remember you care about my problems! Amen.

"Be happy if you have to work hard to stay close to God," said Jesus. "God's kingdom, heaven, belongs to you. Don't worry if you're sad; God will comfort you. Be happy if you're humble and want to follow God; God will be close to you. Be happy if you forgive other people; God will forgive you. Be happy if you work for peace; you'll be called children of God! Even if people hurt you for believing in God, be happy, because you'll go to heaven."

Almost every restaurant you go to has a kids' menu. It's usually shorter than the regular one and includes things you like. If you want something else, you can order from the bigger menu, but it's easier to find what you're looking for on the menu made for you.

This week's Gospel (Matthew 5:1-12) is like a kids' menu from Jesus. Instead of including all sorts of extra stuff people don't need to hear, He gives a short list of what we need to know. 

Jesus says that people have problems sometimes: We're sad or feel far away from God; we struggle to forgive people who hurt us; we try to settle arguments and even get hurt for saying what we think. But God is closest to us when times are tough -- and proudest of us for hanging in there. 

A kids' menu usually lists things like hamburgers, pizza, chicken fingers, and spaghetti. You've probably had them all before: you could order without even looking at the menu! But it still feels good to see a list of things you like, made just for you. 

Jesus' "menu" worked the same way. He knew that people had heard before that God was with them when they had problems, but He listed some of those problems and the solutions. That way, people could hear it and say, "Hey, this list includes things I know about. That means God really is thinking about me and cares what I need!"