Good News B2a, Luke 1:26-38,I am the handmaid of the Lord, Feast of the Immaculate Conception,Catholic, Christian, Gospel related homily for kids, Children's Devotional ,written by Joan Y. Edwards

Cycle B

Good News B2a

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Luke 1:26-38 Bible Gateway New International Version

Luke 1:26-38 Contemporary English Version

“I am the handmaid of the Lord.”

Imagine yourself as Mary with an angel appearing to tell you that God, your almighty Father wanted you to do him a favor. He wanted you to become the Mother of his Son. Or imagine yourself as Joseph and an Angel appeared and wanted you to do him a favor, too. He asked you to take care of Mary as his wife because she was going to be the Mother of the Son of the Almighty Father. It was difficult for them to believe it was happening to them. They were probably wondering why God chose them. God knew that they were humble, honest, good listeners, and had faith in God to send them the help they needed to accomplish their job.

Today God is not asking you to be the real live parent of his Son, Jesus Christ. However, he asks you to be the spiritual Mother or Father of his Son, Jesus Christ. He wants you to take the love he gives you and share it with others. He wants you to take the power he has given you and use it to make the world a better place. He wants you to invent a cure for disease. He wants you to start by taking care of yourself by eating the right foods and getting the right exercise. He wants you to help clean up the world by starting in your bedroom with your toys and your bed. He wants you to love him above all things like Mary and Joseph did. He wants you to take a leap in faith and believe that he will help you. His help doubles when you stop to help another person along your path to heaven.

The problems you have along the path to heaven will make you stronger, wiser, and more loving. You have to focus your love on God and doing as he wishes. God has given you the Ten Commandments as a guide to good behavior. Remembering all of them may be hard. However, Jesus made God’s laws very easy to understand. Love God above all else and love your neighbor as you do yourself. Mary and Joseph were both good examples. They showed you how to follow the will of God without griping and complaining. They showed you how to put God’s wishes before your own. They loved others as they loved themselves. They may have been frightened but they knew that God had a plan for them. They trusted God to send them the help they would need to carry out his plans.

Say the “Our Father.” Tell God that you are his loving and humble servant and you have faith in his power, mercy, and love. Follow the plan he has for you. You will grow strong, wise, and loving. God loves you and is pleased to hear your words of love and determination.

“Our Father, who art in Heaven,

Hallowed be Thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day, our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

As we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.