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PRAYER FOR THE WEEK
Jesus, help me be satisfied with my presents, and remember that you're the greatest gift of all!

Mary and Joseph took the baby Jesus to the temple (like a church). A man named Simeon met them and, filled with the Holy Spirit, he held Jesus and said: "God, I can die happy now, because I've seen a light for the world." Mary and Joseph were amazed. Simeon blessed them, but warned Mary that she would go through pain because her Son, Jesus, would suffer someday.

Around the time you read this, you'll be opening Christmas presents. You probably got something nice - but of course, there aren't many kids in the world who get every single thing they dream of for Christmas. It's important to be grateful for what you get and satisfied, even if there isn't a horse or a Wii among your presents!

This week's Gospel (John 1:1-18) is about a gift - one for an old man named Simeon. He's a man with a lot of faith in God, and he's lived his whole life hoping to meet God someday.

Then Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to the temple. Jesus is still a baby, but Simeon's great faith helps him see who Jesus really is: the Son of God!

There's usually a moment after you open Christmas presents when you look at everything and give a happy sigh. You may not have gotten everything you wanted, but you got something, and that's enough.

Simeon was one of the rare people who got exactly the gift he had dreamed of for years, the best gift of all: meeting God. Even Mary and Joseph were amazed to hear Simeon say, "Now I've seen it all. I can die happy, because I've got everything I ever wanted" - and he said that while cradling the baby Jesus in his arms.

When you don't get your dream presents for Christmas, you might feel a little disappointed. But that means you're forgetting that the whole world gets its dream present every single year: Jesus. We celebrate the birth of Jesus, who came into the world to be with us all.

That might be a little better than a horse or a Wii.[[In-content Ad]]

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