SPEAKER_00 0:00

Good evening, little lambs. Tonight's story is called The First Cake for Mallow, inspired by the Gospel of Luke four sixteen thirty. Tonight Jesus teaches us that He is here today. He came to bring good news to hungry lambs, to sad hearts, and to anyone who feels left out. That good news is not only for the lambs who already know him. In the Gospel of Luke, chapter four, verses sixteen through thirty, that is what he says. And so tonight we're on Shepherd's Hill, where oat cakes cool on a flat stone, and a dusty lamb stands just outside the circle. The evening smelled like toasted oats. The baking stone was still warm under the grass. Six round cakes sat in a neat row, golden at the edges. Juniper's white wool was smooth, her little basket hung empty now. She had stirred the oats, she had kept the flies off with a broad leaf. These are for Jesus, she said, and for us, we are the home hill lambs. Biscuit's golden tuft bounced. Last night she had helped carry hay over the ridge, so old Marigold's stall would not be empty, and tonight she wanted the first cake for the home flock. She was hungry. Clover's blue scarf was neat. The green sprig behind her left ear stood up. Old woolly's silver grey fleece shone as he sat by the stone and did not grab. A thin lamb stood at the edge of the path. Her wool was pale and dusty. A burdock burr stuck behind one ear. She had walked from the next valley where the grass had gone brown. Her name was Mallow. She looked at the cakes. She did not step in. That smell, Mallow whispered, I have not eaten since morning. Juniper moved so her body was between the cakes and the path. These are home hill cakes, she said. Jesus is our shepherd. You have your own valley. Clover's sprig tipped. She wanted to be kind. She also wanted the first cake. Jesus came up the path. He looked at each of them as if that lamb were the only lamb in the meadow. He sat down by the warm stone. Biscuit grinned. Do the special thing, she said. The thing you do for us, because we already know you. Give us the first cake. Jesus picked up the first cake. It was still a little warm. He did not eat it. He stood. He walked past the neat row, past Juniper's basket, all the way to Mallow. He set the cake in her dusty hooves. Eat, he said. Mallow took a bite. The oats were warm, a crumb stuck to her nose. Juniper's ears went back. But we know you, she said. Why does she get the first cake? Do a special thing for us. We bake them. The circle went quiet. Then Jesus said the plainest thing of the whole night. I am here today, he said. I came to bring good news to hungry lambs, to cheer sad hearts, and to help the ones who feel left out. That is happening now, not someday, now, and it is not only for the lambs who already know me. Juniper stared at the five cakes left. So she can have one after us. No, Jesus said. God's kindness is for lambs near and far, not only for our own. Juniper's head dropped. She had wanted Jesus to stay small, like a neighbor who only visits your stall. Old Wooly's voice felt like sitting next to a fire. We know his face, he said. That is not the same as letting him love someone we did not invite. Clover picked up the next cake. She walked it to Mallow's side and sat down in the dust with her. Mallow scooted over so there was room. Juniper was still for a long breath. Then she nosed the third cake toward the far lamb too. I am sorry, she said. I wanted you to be only ours. Jesus did not look angry. He looked the same kind way as before. I still came, he said, even when some lambs want me to go away. I walk on with the same love. Anyone who will listen can come. They ate. The cakes were ordinary and good. Mallow's burr fell out when she laughed, a small, dusty laugh. The first star came out over both hills, and so tonight we learn that Jesus is here today. His good news is for hungry lambs and sad hearts, even the ones who are not from our hill. Knowing his face is not the same as letting him love everyone he came for. Who is one person you could share with even if they are new? And can you let Jesus be bigger than just someone you already know? Let's close our eyes now, safe on the green hill held by the shepherd who is here today. Jesus, thank you that you are here today. Help me share your kindness with lambs near and far. Amen. Good night, little lamb. God loves you so much. Sweet dreams.