Helping God
Children's sermon
Object:
a mask (preferably not scary)
Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members
of my family, you did it to me. (v. 40b)
(put on mask) Good morning, boys and girls! (take off mask) Do you remember Halloween? (allow answers) It was about a month ago, but I guess I just can't wait for next year. What did you do on Halloween? (allow answers) Did any of you wear a mask like this? (allow answers) Halloween is an old holiday, and it's traditional on Halloween to dress up in a costume and go door-to-door asking for candy. Did any of you help pass out candy to trick-or-treaters? (allow answers) Did any of you get candy? (allow answers) Halloween can be fun because you get to pretend to be somebody else. You can hide your face, and sometimes not even your friends recognize you! Have any of you ever had such a good costume that not even your friends could recognize you?
Our scripture today isn't about Halloween, but it reminds me of Halloween. In the gospel, Jesus says that God will thank the good people who helped God when he was sick or hungry or thirsty. The good people say, "God, we've never seen you sick or hungry!" God says back, "Just as you did it to one of the least of these ... you did it to me." The good people are surprised. They did give some bread to poor people, but God just said that those poor people were actually God in disguise! Talk about a good costume!
Meanwhile, God looks at the other people. He says, "Hey, you guys -- why didn't you give me bread or water or medicine?" Just like the good people, these other people say, "God, we've never seen you need those things!" But God tells them the same thing he told the good people: that those poor people, the hungry and thirsty people, and the sick people were all God in disguise.
This has a good message for us. Helping others is like helping God. You may be helping your sister or brother, or maybe your mom or your aunt or uncle, but maybe they are God in disguise, too. Remember that God is everywhere! He watches everything we do. Every time we give food to someone who is hungry or help someone who is sick get his or her medicine, we are doing what God says is good to do. What else can we do that God says is good? (allow answers) Who can you help? (allow answers)
Remember how this mask can make it hard to know who a person is? When it comes to us showing God's love, we don't want any mask! We can use this on Halloween, but for the rest of the year, show who you really are by helping those who need your help. You may just find God in disguise. Amen.
(put on mask) Good morning, boys and girls! (take off mask) Do you remember Halloween? (allow answers) It was about a month ago, but I guess I just can't wait for next year. What did you do on Halloween? (allow answers) Did any of you wear a mask like this? (allow answers) Halloween is an old holiday, and it's traditional on Halloween to dress up in a costume and go door-to-door asking for candy. Did any of you help pass out candy to trick-or-treaters? (allow answers) Did any of you get candy? (allow answers) Halloween can be fun because you get to pretend to be somebody else. You can hide your face, and sometimes not even your friends recognize you! Have any of you ever had such a good costume that not even your friends could recognize you?
Our scripture today isn't about Halloween, but it reminds me of Halloween. In the gospel, Jesus says that God will thank the good people who helped God when he was sick or hungry or thirsty. The good people say, "God, we've never seen you sick or hungry!" God says back, "Just as you did it to one of the least of these ... you did it to me." The good people are surprised. They did give some bread to poor people, but God just said that those poor people were actually God in disguise! Talk about a good costume!
Meanwhile, God looks at the other people. He says, "Hey, you guys -- why didn't you give me bread or water or medicine?" Just like the good people, these other people say, "God, we've never seen you need those things!" But God tells them the same thing he told the good people: that those poor people, the hungry and thirsty people, and the sick people were all God in disguise.
This has a good message for us. Helping others is like helping God. You may be helping your sister or brother, or maybe your mom or your aunt or uncle, but maybe they are God in disguise, too. Remember that God is everywhere! He watches everything we do. Every time we give food to someone who is hungry or help someone who is sick get his or her medicine, we are doing what God says is good to do. What else can we do that God says is good? (allow answers) Who can you help? (allow answers)
Remember how this mask can make it hard to know who a person is? When it comes to us showing God's love, we don't want any mask! We can use this on Halloween, but for the rest of the year, show who you really are by helping those who need your help. You may just find God in disguise. Amen.
