“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35

When Jesus said “it is more blessed to give than to receive”, He was not saying the more expensive the gift the better! Yet at Christmas how many people go into financial debt trying to make people happy?

It takes some courage to swim against the tide, but that is what Jesus wants us to do. The “tide” I am speaking of is a spirit of consumerism that has people believing that we show love by giving lavish, high priced gifts.

Let’s reflect on what St. Paul said,

“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” Acts 20:35

What does Jesus truly desire from us this Christmas?

𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬. 𝐇𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬! 𝐇𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐇𝐢𝐦.

God says, “…give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways…” Proverbs 23:26

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐲, 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞…𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬!

There are so many wonderful charities that are working to help the suffering. May God bless them all! If you can afford to give to a charity this Christmas then give for the Glory of God.

“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.” Proverbs 19:17

What else can we do to show Jesus we love Him?

There are many gifts we can give Jesus that do not involve money. Consider the following:

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐑𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐑

Consider praying for people who are sad or ill this Christmas. Pray for those who do not yet know and love Jesus. Pray for those that are lost in a life of crime and violence. Pray for peace and an end to war.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐕𝐎𝐋𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆

Consider giving some time to a good cause that you believe in. Make a stranger smile with your generosity!

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

Consider visiting some people who are lonely. Sometimes these people are right in our own families.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 & 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐆𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒

Let us reflect on the ways we may have offended Jesus and let us give Jesus our penitent hearts and ask for forgiveness. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

Let us also forgive those that have hurt us. “… Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Luke 6:37

The gift of forgiveness sometimes needs to be given even without an apology. Jesus guides us to pray for those that have hurt us: “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” Matthew 5:44

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐒𝐓

Give Jesus the gift of trust: “All you who fear the LORD, trust the LORD! He is your helper and your shield.” Psalm 115:11 P

Perhaps some of the relationships in your life are suffering because trust needs to be renewed. Let’s put all our problems in the hands of Our Lord Jesus and TRUST that He will help us!

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄

Consider creating some quality time with God and in the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season read and reflect on the Word of God and listen to what God is speaking to your heart.

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏

Let us worship Our Lord Jesus as we receive His Sacrament of LOVE, the Holy Eucharist. Let us receive the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus and invite Jesus to dwell within us and do good works through us.

Please join Christians all over the world that are stopping daily at the Time Jesus died for us, 3pm, to remember His Infinite Sacrifice and to Pray for His mercy upon all! Imagine what we can accomplish together united in remembrance of the Lord’s Passion and in a daily prayer calling for the Holy Spirit to transform our world, one soul-at-a-time!

𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧!

𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞, 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞, 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮!