When Jesus was here on earth, he always taught his followers to love others, and help them. We’re to do that, too. So, when you see someone who is thirsty, hand them a bottle of water. If someone doesn’t have a lunch, you can share your lunch with them. It is all a part of loving Christ the King. When we love him, we want to be kind to others. Can you think of ways that we can be kind to other people?
This week's gospel lesson is one of my very favorites. Jesus tells his followers a story about the day they will gather before him to enter heaven - and (as he sometimes does) he confuses them just a little by explaining that they will enter heaven because they've taken such good care of him.
If we want to teach others about what it means to follow Jesus' teachings, what kind of examples will we need to set? (Solicit children's responses and link back to the importance of setting an example. For instance: If we want to teach about kindness - or taking care of the less fortunate - how could we model this in our own lives?) It sounds like you're ready to be teachers for God!
What word stands out in both rules? (Allow the children to respond.) That’s right––LOVE. We are to love God with our entire self––our heart, soul and mind. And also, we are to love others. When we love God and other people, we will be kind and generous. Then, we won’t mind all those rules we live by, like lining up at school, or washing our hands, and saying, “Excuse me.”
When you care for and show kindness to others it is as if you are giving a gift to God. Can you think of ways you could help? Let's make a list.
Jesus spoke with the men who were his followers and told them, "Go, and make disciples of all nations…" (28:19). He tells his followers to carry on his work and help others learn about God's love. This invitation is extended to us as well. We can all be disciples of Jesus, learning how to receive God's love and how to offer God's love to others.
On Easter, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus––who died, but who came back to life. He promises us that, when we die, we can come back to life again too––and live with him in heaven. I brought along a box of tissues to help you remember that. I'll pull one tissue out of the box, and that stands for Jesus coming back to life. Then each one of you can pull one tissue out of the box and take it with you. That tissue will remind you that, just as Jesus came back to life, so will you––because you believe in Jesus.
When we give care to people who need help it is as if we are giving the care directly to God. What are some of the ways we can help? Give food to a food bank, send clothes to a homeless shelter, give someone a cup of water, make people feel welcome, visit the elderly who are housebound or in a nursing home, or volunteer at a hospital. All of these are powerful ways to help others and at the same time serve God.
Do you think we can tell others that Jesus is alive? (Give children time to respond.) Yes. So, who could we tell? (Give children time to respond. You might offer suggestions: I could my friends, my parents, my grandparents.) Yes, we can. And we won’t be afraid.
Like many of Jesus' stories, he tells this one to help teach us a lesson: God doesn't want us to hide our gifts and blessings. Instead he wants us to use them to spread his love and his message in the world. When we do, we help inspire others to do the same. It's like we're planting seeds that keep growing more and more of God's works in the world.