WHAT DID YOU GIVE FOR CHRISTMAS?
“It is better to give than to receive.”
-Jesus of Nazareth
The above words of our Lord, which in a red letter bible glow red, are not found in any of the four Gospels, but in fact, in the Acts of the Apostles, which is the sequel to Luke’s Gospel. Christmastide is a great time for bible reading; see it yourself at Acts 20:35! The three kings, whom we remember in the Feast of Epiphany, came and “opened up their treasures and offered him gifts…” (Matthew 2:11). Their whole identity (and even their number) is linked with the gifts they gave. They came out of the East as givers, not takers. Their relics are even venerated in the great Gothic Cathedral of Cologne, Germany!
The magi’s act of generosity fulfilled the vision of the Prophet Isaiah from our first reading which tells of the giving of precious gifts (Isaiah 60). This will not be the last act of giving done unto our Lord, but prefigures other moments—many of which are remembered in the context of His Passion and Death—including the anointing of His feet with perfume, the donating of an unused tomb and anointing His body for burial. Martha, Mary and Lazarus offered Him hospitality in Bethany; they fed and sheltered Him and His disciples. Christ’s ability to receive was rooted in His poverty and practical needs but also to show us a way to live open to receiving the greatest of gifts.
Jesus came into the world as a gift from our Heavenly Father and to all who receive Him and believe in His Name is given the power to become Children of God (see John 3:16 and 1 John 1:12). Additionally, Jesus reminds us that what is given to one in need is really given to Him: “You did it for me!” (see Matthew 25).
Many gifts have been given and received around the world during these days but the gift of God is the most precious and it is His gift of Himself to us that teaches us to make a gift of ourselves in love and service of each other. Jesus never settled for giving something but always Himself. Perhaps as we ponder what we got for Christmas we should consider what we gave for Christmas. Is not our presence, our time, our energy, our attention, our patience, our kindness a most precious gift that we can offer?
On behalf of the priests and parish staff, I express my heartfelt thanks for your many kind Christmas cards, greetings and generous gifts! I also want to express gratitude for all who generously prepared our churches for Christmas as well as all who were involved with the special liturgies, concerts and festivities of the past several weeks. We are especially grateful for our Polish Saturday School who share a festive Jesełka Nativity Play next Sunday. Though the formal Christmas season wraps up next Sunday with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the time for pondering the greatest gifts given and received does not come to an end.
As you come to Mass this weekend, I invite you to take a piece of blessed chalk for you to use for the Epiphany House Blessing which can be found on p. 7. It is a great way to bring God’s blessing into your home, giving the Lord access to your daily lives, routines and relationships.
Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar brought Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh to the Christ Child and His family. In giving those gifts, they gave their hearts to serve Him as their True King. Let’s imitate them all throughout this Jubilee Year!
-Fr. Howe