Sermon – 7/14/02 – 10:30 a.m.

(With the Kids)

St. Paul tells us in the first reading from the Bible this morning, that we are part of God’s family – that all ages, from little kids to the oldest grown-ups, can pray to God and say the prayer that starts “Our Father.” In fact, we can all use the same name for God that Jesus used: “Abba.” Can you say that? (“Abba”). Abba means “father” in a very close, cozy and trusting way. Let me tell you a story about how I found out exactly what “Abba” means.

Have you ever gotten lost? (Raise hands.) Grown-ups too. Was it scary? Anybody ever gotten separated from your parents? Any parent ever gotten separated from a child? Was that scary (either parents or kids)?

A few years ago I was in Israel, where many people speak the same language Jesus did (Hebrew). I was sitting in Ben Gurion airport, a big airport with lots of people. Suddenly I saw a little girl about three years old. She was lost. All she could see around her was thousands of knees.

And she was crying. As loud as she could, she was crying “ABBA! ABBA!”

And her Abba, her Daddy, came out of the crowd, picked her up in his strong arms and comforted her. She felt much better, safe in his arms.

THAT’s what God wants to be like for all of us. Our Abba, that strong, tender person who we trust absolutely. No matter how big we get, we need God our Abba, and our Abba will be there for us however we need Him most.

(The Rev.) Francis A. Huubard

St.Barnabas Episcopal Church