---

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK
Jesus, help me stand up and be brave, even when I'm scared! Amen.


After Jesus was born, three wise men came to King Herod, asking, "Where is the newborn King of the Jews? We followed His star here to worship Him." Herod worried this "new king" might take over, so he sent the wise men to find Jesus and come back. They found Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus, and brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. But an angel warned them that Herod would kill Jesus, so instead of returning, they went home another way.

What's the bravest thing you've ever done? Did you stand up to a bully, audition for a play or volunteer for a service project?

How did you feel when you did that? Brave people know a secret: They're just as scared as anyone else. They just decide to do something brave anyway.

There are a lot of brave people in this week's Gospel (Matthew 2:1-12): Jesus is brave to become a person like us, born as a baby; Mary says "yes" to becoming the mother of God - and giving birth to Jesus in a stable far from home; Joseph agrees to marry Mary and become Jesus' foster father, taking care of both of them.

The three wise men are brave enough to travel miles and miles, following only a star in the sky as a map, because they believe in Jesus and will do anything to see Him.

Imagine how scared they all were! Herod expected the wise men to report back, but they didn't. They were brave enough to defy a king to save Jesus. Mary and Joseph also protected Jesus, even though it meant they had to hide and move away after He was born.

If they can be that scared and still do something that brave, you can do brave things, too: tell on someone who cheats...try out for a team...make friends with a lonely kid. Bravery is open to everyone![[In-content Ad]]

---