The Identifying Scars
Children's sermon
Alleluia!
Messages For Children On Lent And Easter Themes
"Alan, you are late again!" Alan's father's jaw twitched, which meant he was not pleased. Alan's father was angry. "This is the third time this week you have been late to dinner!"
The family was seated at the dinner table when Alan slammed the door, dropped his books on the floor, pulled out his chair, and sat down at the table. "I'm sorry. I didn't know what time it was." It was Alan's usual excuse.
The next morning at the breakfast table there was a surprise package beside Alan's plate. Alan unwrapped the box. In it was an inexpensive watch, but it was Alan's. He grinned. "Now I don't have an excuse."
That evening the family was sitting at the dinner table when Alan slammed the door, dropped his books on the floor, pulled out his chair, and sat down at the table. "I'm sorry. I forgot to watch my watch." Father glared at Alan across the table, his jaw twitching, which meant Alan's father was angry.
"If you are late tomorrow, your dinner will be bread and water!"
The next night dinner was later than usual. "Mary, what is slowing up dinner?" Father asked. Mother said nothing, simply setting the table, glancing at Alan's empty chair.
When everyone was at last seated at the dinner table, their plates filled with food, Alan slammed the door, dropped his books on the floor, pulled out his chair, and sat down at the table. "I'm sorry ..."
Alan looked down at his plate. There was a piece of dry bread and a glass of water. Everyone was eating fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, and crisp orange carrots, his favorite foods. His stomach growled with hunger and he coughed so no one would hear it. He wanted to hold his nose so he wouldn't smell the fried chicken. Then, without meaning to, a tear rolled down Alan's cheek.
Everyone continued to eat. No one paid any attention to Alan until suddenly his father reached out, taking Alan's empty plate and glass of water and giving Alan his plate of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, crisp orange carrots, and a glass of milk.
That night Alan's father went to bed hungry and Alan went to bed with a scar. He never forgot that meal, and from then on he was home in time for dinner as everyone else was, for as he told his children years later, "All my life I have known what God is like because of what my father did that night."
Our sacred story says that Jesus was recognized by the scars on his hands and feet that were symbols of victory and of love.
Talk together: Have you ever hurt yourself and had a scar from your wound? What were Jesus' scars? What was Alan's scar? How did he know what God is like? Jesus told a story of a "father like that."
Prayer: Thank you, God, for being our loving Parent. Help us be brave and remember the scars of Jesus when we receive scars from harsh or ugly words, rejection, or other hurts. Amen.
The family was seated at the dinner table when Alan slammed the door, dropped his books on the floor, pulled out his chair, and sat down at the table. "I'm sorry. I didn't know what time it was." It was Alan's usual excuse.
The next morning at the breakfast table there was a surprise package beside Alan's plate. Alan unwrapped the box. In it was an inexpensive watch, but it was Alan's. He grinned. "Now I don't have an excuse."
That evening the family was sitting at the dinner table when Alan slammed the door, dropped his books on the floor, pulled out his chair, and sat down at the table. "I'm sorry. I forgot to watch my watch." Father glared at Alan across the table, his jaw twitching, which meant Alan's father was angry.
"If you are late tomorrow, your dinner will be bread and water!"
The next night dinner was later than usual. "Mary, what is slowing up dinner?" Father asked. Mother said nothing, simply setting the table, glancing at Alan's empty chair.
When everyone was at last seated at the dinner table, their plates filled with food, Alan slammed the door, dropped his books on the floor, pulled out his chair, and sat down at the table. "I'm sorry ..."
Alan looked down at his plate. There was a piece of dry bread and a glass of water. Everyone was eating fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, and crisp orange carrots, his favorite foods. His stomach growled with hunger and he coughed so no one would hear it. He wanted to hold his nose so he wouldn't smell the fried chicken. Then, without meaning to, a tear rolled down Alan's cheek.
Everyone continued to eat. No one paid any attention to Alan until suddenly his father reached out, taking Alan's empty plate and glass of water and giving Alan his plate of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, crisp orange carrots, and a glass of milk.
That night Alan's father went to bed hungry and Alan went to bed with a scar. He never forgot that meal, and from then on he was home in time for dinner as everyone else was, for as he told his children years later, "All my life I have known what God is like because of what my father did that night."
Our sacred story says that Jesus was recognized by the scars on his hands and feet that were symbols of victory and of love.
Talk together: Have you ever hurt yourself and had a scar from your wound? What were Jesus' scars? What was Alan's scar? How did he know what God is like? Jesus told a story of a "father like that."
Prayer: Thank you, God, for being our loving Parent. Help us be brave and remember the scars of Jesus when we receive scars from harsh or ugly words, rejection, or other hurts. Amen.
