A friend or stranger?

That can make it hard to understand what a "stranger" really is -- somebody you don't know, or just somebody your parents don't know, either? What if someone says they know your parents? Should you talk to them?

In this week's Gospel (John 1:35-42), Andrew and John meet someone they think is a "stranger." Then they find out He's one stranger that it's okay to talk to: Jesus!

John the Baptist saw Jesus walk by one day and said, "There's the Lamb of God!" Right away, two men named Andrew and John asked Jesus, "Teacher, where are you staying?" Jesus answered, "Come and see." Andrew told his brother, Peter, "We found the Messiah, the one who's going to save the world!" Andrew, John and Peter left with Jesus and became His first Apostles.

That might be why Andrew and John weren't going to talk to Jesus at first. They didn't know Him, so they were scared to talk to Him.

One time when it's okay to talk to someone you don't know is when your parents are right there with you. If your mom says, "This is your cousin; talk to her," it's probably all right to do that.

John the Baptist was right there to show Andrew and John that Jesus wasn't really a stranger. When he said, "There's Jesus, the Lamb of God," Andrew and John knew Jesus was someone they had to meet: God!

Andrew, John and Peter met Jesus, saw that He really was God, and followed Him. Then Jesus made them His Apostles, His best friends. They found out something important: If Jesus is a stranger to you, it's easy to become His friend!

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK: Jesus, teach me to never talk to strangers -- but to remember you're not a stranger! Amen.