Trusting God and Santa

Questions like that might really bother you. You get worried and afraid that Santa won't come. Even though you know he comes every year, you still wonder!

Mary must have felt like you. When an angel told her she was going to be the mother of God, she didn't know how that could happen. How could she have a baby, just like that? How could she be good enough to be Jesus' mother?

In this week's Gospel (Luke 1:26-38), we get the answer:

An angel of God visited Mary and told her, "Congratulations! You're going to have a baby, and name Him Jesus." Mary was worried and scared. How could she be the mother of God? "The Holy Spirit will be with you," the angel said. "Remember, nothing's impossible for God." Mary answered: "I am God's servant. I'll do what you say."

Mary was pretty worried, too. She was very young and was just about to get married to Joseph, and now God was changing all her plans. She thought Joseph would be the father of her children, not God!

After you've worried about Santa for a while, you probably forget about it. You just trust that Santa will get in somehow, and there will be something under your Christmas tree on Christmas morning.

That's like what the angel taught Mary: Trust God. God could make her the mother of Jesus, and she didn't even have to worry about how. If God wants something to happen, it can happen.

Mary said "yes" to the angel -- that she would be the mother of God. We can say "yes" to God, too, by trusting that God is looking out for us all the time -- even by helping Santa get into our houses!

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK: Jesus, help me trust Santa -- and you! Amen.

(12-16-99)