Now that Christmas is coming, you've already made a list of all the presents you wish you'd get. But right after Christmas comes New Year's Day, when many people make another list: a list of "New Year's resolutions."

Resolutions are things you promise yourself to work harder on this year. It might be exercising more, doing your homework right after school, or being nicer to people. In a way, this week's Gospel (Mark 1:1-8) talks about New Year's resolutions:

When Jesus was ready to start teaching, John the Baptist reminded people to get ready, to show they were sorry for their sins by being baptized. "The one who's coming is much greater than I am," John said. "I don't even deserve to untie His shoes! And I'll just baptize you with water, but He can baptize with the Holy Spirit."

People make New Year's resolutions because they want to do some things better, and the beginning of a new year is a good time to try new things. The people John the Baptist taught were beginning a new time, too: the time when Jesus would be with them, to teach them about God and forgive sins.

Resolutions are usually about stopping something you shouldn't be doing (like fighting with your brother) or starting something you should, like praying every day. John the Baptist told people to get ready for Jesus by stopping their bad habits, being baptized and listening to what Jesus would teach.

A new year is always exciting. You know you'll have another birthday, but you wonder if other cool things will happen to you. Maybe you'll go on a vacation, win a contest or meet someone famous! Anything can happen in a whole year.

If a new year is exciting for you, think of how happy John and his friends must have been! In their new year, they were going to meet someone so famous, John wouldn't dare untie His shoes!

And now, we are going to meet that same person, when we celebrate Jesus' birth at Christmas -- so we'd better make our New Year's resolutions!

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK: Jesus, help me remember to make my New Year's resolutions, so I can get ready for you! Amen.

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