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Our Christmas giving is meant to symbolize God’s generosity to us. As we give our gifts–large or small–let’s be grateful that the Father gave us the greatest gift of all.
At Christmas we celebrate not just the human birth of Christ our savior, but also the ongoing relationship of an eternally loving father toward his children.
We might be struggling right now to see God’s plan unfolding, whether in our own lives or those of our children. But Christmas is the beginning of the ultimate happy ending.
The family connection is a strong one. And it is a blessing. As my oldest daughter, Maddie, said to her brother, Alex, once: “You have to love me, I’m your sister. You have no choice.”
Saint John of Kanty was a beloved priest in Kraków, Poland, where he taught Scripture. A simple, humble man, John was often taken advantage of, but maintained his generous attitude to those in need. He died on Christmas Eve in 1473.
As we approach the celebration of the birth of Christ at Christmas, God addresses his message of salvation to us: “Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is at hand.”
Take time to be grateful for the many ways you perceive the world around you—sight, sound, smell, and touch—and the people and places these perceptions evoke.
My daughter Riley is an animal lover. After our dog Hobbes passed away, she carried around a ceramic Yorkshire—complete with Hobbes’s old collar and leash—until we got a new puppy. Riley has great concern for all animals, including birds during the winter months.
Jacopone da Todi’s life changed radically when his wife died in an accident at a local tournament. Turning from his self-indulgent life, he eventually became a Franciscan friar, but life was not easy even then. Jacopone is most known for writing the beautiful hymn, “Stabat Mater,” in the later years of his life.
In the midst of our Christmas celebrations, today’s Gospel reminds of “the rest of the story,” which will culminate in the death and resurrection of Jesus, and the birth of the Church. Along with Mary and Joseph and all who follow him, we have begun the journey.
