“I don’t know what to do,” Father Michael said to me. “I usually teach religion here at the school but I also have to substitute for the history teacher until the end of the term. When they get into the history class, they no longer respond to me.”
I said, “They’re probably just used to seeing you as a religion teacher. Why don’t you start the class with something about what’s going on right now in their lives?”
“That’s a great idea,” he said. “Why don’t you come observe the class and I’ll talk about Christmas.”
I was visiting Mike at the school in Belize City where he teaches. We met twenty-five years ago when we played music together before he became a priest.
“All right children,” Father Michael said, once they were all seated. “Who is fat and wears a red suit and has a big white beard?”
The eight-year-olds glanced at each other but no one answered.
Father Michael said, “He comes around at Christmas time.”
Still, no one answered.
“Who wears a red suit, has a big white beard and comes around at Christmas? One last hint—he has a sleigh pulled by reindeer.”
A boy in the back row of students raised his hand and said, “Sir?”
“Yes, Hector?” the priest said.
The boy said, “Since it’s you asking, I know the answer is probably Jesus but it sure sounds like Santa Claus to me.”
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