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Good evening, little lambs. Tonight's story is called The Lantern at the Barn Door, inspired by the Gospel of Matthew twenty four forty two fifty one. Tonight Jesus teaches us that God is faithful. God calls us to be friends with Jesus. He gives us good gifts to share while we wait, and He Himself keeps us until Jesus comes. In the first letter to the Corinthians, chapter one verses one through nine, that is the good news, and so tonight we're on Shepherd's Hill as the light goes thin, and the barn door lantern still needs filling. The grass was cool, the sky was the color of a peach going dark. Jesus stood at the barn door with a small clay lantern in his hands. Without it, the path home would be only dark. I am walking to the far pasture, he said. Marigold's gate latch stuck this afternoon, and I said I would fix it before night. Keep this lantern at the door, fill it, I will come back. He looked at each of them as if that lamb were the only lamb in the meadow. Biscuit's golden tuft bounced. We will, we will make it the brightest lantern on the whole hill. Clover's blue scarf was neat. The green sprig behind her left ear tipped. Quiet, dark fleeced mat lifted the oil jug. Thistle, the wiry lamb with wool, the color of dry grass, who had helped carry the heavy berry basket home last evening, so the fold could eat supper together, held the door so the lantern would not tip. Jesus set the lantern on the hook. He struck a spark. A small yellow flame stood up inside the glass. Then he walked down the path until they could not see him in the far pasture. The lamb sat. Biscuit rubbed the glass until her hoof squeaked. If it shines enough, she said, he cannot forget us. Clover's voice was small. What if we have to be perfect first? Old Wooly's silver grey fleece shone in the lantern light. His voice felt like sitting next to a fire. He called you his, he said. That is already true. The oil line sank. The flame leaned. Matt poured, slow, so it would not spill. Thistle's ears went sideways. I am not good at speeches, he said. He did not sound mean. He sounded honest. I only know how to hold a door. That is a gift too, said old Wooly, and I can tell a story while we wait, so no one sits scared. He told a short one about a shepherd who always found the path home. Biscuits stopped rubbing. Clover's sprig lifted a little. The sky went almost black. The first star came out, small and sure. The lantern made a warm circle on the dirt. Biscuit's tuft drooped. He is taking a long time, she whispered. Maybe he found better lambs at Marigold's gate. Clover almost cupped her hoof around the flame. Her hoof stopped in the air. If we put it out, Matt said, we will not see the path. They left it burning, hooves on the path, dust. Then Jesus, with a smear of rust on his thumb from the latch, walking into the lantern light. He sat down in the circle. Clover's words tumbled. We were afraid you would not come. I thought we had to be extra good. Jesus' voice was the plainest thing all night. God is faithful, he said. He called you to be my friends. I said I would come. I came. That was the whole lesson, sitting there in the dirt. You do not have to make yourselves perfect first, Jesus said. I name you mine Old Wooly's story, Matt filling the jug, thisle holding the door. Those are gifts I gave you, to share while you wait, not to show off, to help each other until I am here. Biskit looked at the lantern. The glass was a little smudged now. The flame was still steady. So we wait because you keep your promise, she said, not because we are strong. Yes, Jesus said. I will keep you. You do not have to keep yourselves. He put his hand on Clover's head. Her sprig stood bright. He thanked God out loud for the good he could see. Mat's pouring, thisle's door, old Wooly's story, biscuits wanting. The lantern burned, the fold grew quiet, and so tonight we learned that God is faithful. He calls us into friendship with Jesus. He gives us gifts to share while we wait, and He Himself holds us steady until Jesus comes. You do not have to be perfect first, you already belong. What is one gift you can share tonight while you wait? And who could you sit with so nobody waits in the dark alone? Let's close our eyes now, safe on the green hill held by the shepherd who always comes back. Jesus, thank you that God is faithful. Thank you for calling me your friend. Help me share my gifts while I wait, and keep me until you come. Amen. Good night, little lamb. God loves you so much. Sweet dreams.