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PRAYER FOR THE WEEK
Jesus, teach me to work on being good all year, not just before Christmas! Amen.

John the Baptist baptized many people in the Jordan River. He told them, "I'm baptizing you with water; but, when Jesus comes, He'll baptize you with the Holy Spirit -- so be ready for Him!"

Getting ready for Christmas is supposed to be all about being good. Adults tell you that Santa Claus is watching you or even threaten to take away your presents themselves if you don't behave. There's a lot of pressure.

If you're honest, you have to admit that you probably aren't any more "good" at Christmas time than any other time of year!

This week's Gospel (Matthew 3:1-12) is also about the idea of being good -- and about whether people are really doing that.

In the Gospel story, John the Baptist has been spreading the word that Jesus is coming. He warns people that Jesus is from heaven and will baptize people with the Holy Spirit, so they'd better be good. Otherwise, they won't be ready to listen to what Jesus teaches.

Everyone starts getting baptized, saying that they're sorry for their sins and they want God's forgiveness. But it's hard to tell from the story whether people have really changed their lives, or they're just scared.

That sounds like the time before Christmas: lots of pressure to be good, some confusion about what "being good" really means -- and maybe even giving up, because nobody's perfect.

Being good at Christmas shouldn't be any different than being good the rest of the year. You're always supposed to be kind to other people and be grateful instead of greedy.

That's really what John the Baptist was hoping: not that people would panic over their sins one time, but that they'd work on being good and staying close to God all the time!

(12/02/10)[[In-content Ad]]

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