Scripture: John 14:15-21

 

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy and see if she is there. Ready? One, two, three…Good morning, Sammy!

 

Sammy: Good morning everyone! Today is a special day! Today is Mother’s Day!

 

Pastor: Happy Mother’s Day to all of our church mamas out there. 

 

Sammy: You know what’s great, Pastor?

 

Pastor: What is that, Sammy?

 

Sammy: I have a mama at home, but here at church, I have many mamas and grandmas that God gave me. We all believe in God, and we are a church family. I love looking around at my family here at _______ (church name).

 

Pastor: That’s a gift, Sammy. Boys and girls, what are some of the things your mamas and grandmas do for you because they love you?

 

[Allow time for responses]

 

Pastor: Those are all great answers. My mom helps me _______. 

 

Sammy: Pastor?

 

Pastor: Yes, Sammy?

 

Sammy: What is an avocado?

 

Pastor: An avocado is a fruit that grows on a tree.

 

Sammy: No. No. Let me try again. What is an ad-vo-cat? 

 

Pastor: An ad-vo-cat?

 

Sammy: Yes, an ad-vo-cat.

 

Pastor: I don’t think that’s anything, Sammy. I think you are making up words.

Sammy: I am not making up words. You were the one who read the Gospel, Pastor.

 

Pastor: Oh! You mean an advocate. Jesus is talking about an advocate, Sammy.

 

Sammy: Phew! I was worried that you were not going to understand me, Pastor. So what is an advocate.

 

Pastor: An advocate is someone who speaks on our behalf and who watches out for us. In the Gospel, the Advocate Jesus is talking about is the Holy Spirit. Jesus has to go back to Heaven, and he promises his disciples, and us, too, that he is not going to leave us alone. 

 

Sammy: But he left!

 

Pastor: Right, but the Holy Spirit is with us always. God is always with us.

 

Sammy: I am glad he is with me and that he is my advocate.

 

Pastor: Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to us because he loves us. Just like our mamas love us. Just like our church family loves us. We are given these gifts from God because his love for us is so great, it is more than we can ever imagine. 

 

Sammy: That’s a whole lot of love. I love that Jesus sent an advocate for me. And I love that he gave me my mama, and our whole church, too.

 

Pastor: Let’s pray together. Can everyone please fold your hands and bow your heads? Dear Jesus, Thank you for your Holy Spirit. Thank you for mamas.  Thank you for our church family. Amen.

 

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

 

Pastor: Bye, everyone!

“Some Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection) came to Jesus, and began questioning Him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves behind a wife and leaves no child, his brother should marry the wife and raise up children to his brother” (Mark 12:18-19).

Another trap.  The ones who do not believe in the resurrection set traps to ensnare those who do not agree with them.  This is the way of wickedness.  Seeking to be clever, they take you down a trail with a trap set at the end.  The truth is the truth and those who twist the truth for their own ends will do what they do to feel good about themselves, even if it comes at the expense of your understanding of things.

Lord, I know there are those in this world who seek their own ends.  Help me to see through them and not to be caught up in their traps.  Guide me through this world’s traps seeing them for what they are.  You have revealed truth and what I may think about things is secondary.  In You alone is the world held together.  Guide me in wisdom to not get worked up by those who are seeking for their own gain.

Lord Jesus, You entertained all these people on equal footing.  You gave each of them their time.  Help me to not put You to the test but instead seek the wisdom which You give.  Guide me to focus on the upward call that You have given me, knowing that in You I have life and liberty.  Lead me in the way of life You are preparing me to live.  Help me to put none to the test, but keep my heart and mind devoted to the Gospel.  Amen.