Sharing the Gifts of Christ

   During the Christmas season we hear a lot about gifts.  The gifts the Magi presented to the Baby Jesus; the gifts we give each other; the presents given to family and friends.  Gift-giving is one of the things that makes Christmas so joyful.  The act of sharing brings great happiness.

   We tend to focus on the gifts of this world but it’s far more important and wonderful to remember and contemplate the gifts Christ gave us by His birth, death, and resurrection.  The gifts we give will wear out, break or even be returned for something else.  The gifts of Jesus are eternal and will fill our lives with their blessings forever.

   He gave up His glory in order to become one of us; the all-powerful one relinquished His power to come to us as a helpless infant.  He gave the care of His very life to the Blessed Mother and Joseph to watch over and protect.  He gave us His wisdom in the words He shared, the parables He told and the lessons He taught.  He gave the gift of healing, both spiritual and, in many cases, physical.  Above all He gave us His life.  The gift of His suffering and death was given to offer forgiveness to all.  His resurrection promises eternal life.

   These gifts of the Lord are not ours to keep, they are ours to share.  If we don’t share them with others we have failed to properly accept His gifts and His love.  The beauty of giving them away is that they are in endless supply.  The more we give the more we receive; the more we love the more we are loved.

   Take the gifts He offers; know the peace and joy of His presence.  But remember to share them for they were given for us to share.

Jesus, I welcome the many blessings You give.

I thank You for the gifts of Your love.

May I always treasure these gifts

And may I lovingly share them with others.

Amen