Kids, can I tell you a story? It’s a story about an important man who has to go away and it’s a story about a test for the people he leaves in charge while he is gone. Jesus told this story to His disciples so that they would learn what He expects from them, and it is a story for us to learn from too.

So, this important man, who has a very nice house, needs to go away to a wedding and he has to travel kind of far to get to the wedding. Before he goes, he tells the servants that work for him to stay at his house while he is gone. And while they are staying there, they are to take care of the house, keep it clean and picked up so that when he comes back, the house will be ready for him. But he did not tell them one important thing, he did not tell the servants when he would be coming back.

This is kind of a test for the servants because the house is really nice, and they could invite their friends over for a party while the man is away. But the man told them not too. Will they listen to the man? Or will they have a party??! The man knew this was a test, and he wondered when he came home if they had done what he asked or not. He hoped that they would be good so even if he came home in the middle of the night, everything would be OK.

What do you think? Were they good?? Well, when the man did come home, the servants were ready for his return and had done just what he asked. The man was well pleased, and the servants were blessed.

So, kids, this story is really about Jesus, He is the man in the story. You see, Jesus knew He was going up to heaven, but one day would return to us, so He told us exactly what we should do while He is away. We do not know when we will see Him again, but I for one, want to be like those servants who do exactly what He asked so that when I see Him again, He is well pleased. 

What does Jesus ask us to do while He is away? He asks us to be ready for His return by how we treat others, by always telling the truth, by listening to our parents and teachers, by saying our prayers and by coming to Mass. If we do that, we make Jesus our friend, and He will be very happy.

And, kids, do you know what? If we do these things, Jesus has a tremendous gift for us! That’s right, a gift that is so special that we cannot even imagine exactly what it will be like. That gift is heaven. In the Gospel reading, Jesus says, “Do not be afraid any longer, little flock” (that’s you guys!) “for your Father,” (meaning God), “is pleased to give you the kingdom.” That kingdom is heaven. And did you notice that Jesus said, “your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom?” That’s right, He wants us with Him in heaven, so much so that he is happy to give us this gift! That’s pretty cool. 

If we knew just how special heaven is, we would all do everything is our power to make sure we got there, and we would do that every day. Heaven is that amazing. Imagine being in heaven with all our family and friends, surrounded by love, being totally happy, and get this, no homework! That is His gift to us, if we do what He asks while He is away.

Will we do all He asks?

Will we treat people well? 

Will we do what our parents ask?

Will we be a friend to everyone?

If we do, we are on that path to that most precious gift! 

OK, Parents, how would we answer those same questions? Are we ready if He comes? What will He find if He comes when we are not expecting Him?? And are we helping our kids learn to follow Jesus, to be prepared? 

There is another line in the Gospel reading today that points to this gift, to the reaction of Jesus when we do make it to heaven. “Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.” He is so happy to have us with Him, that it is like He is waiting on us as we recline at His table in heaven. 

That’s His gift to us and that’s how pleased He will be to have us with Him forever! What will He find when He comes?