Christmas - Upon much reflection, and after a Mass yesterday said for my moms repose, I wanted to assess am I spending the Christmas Season and Christmas Day wisely. With regret, I can say I was caught up in the commercial side of Christmas and ordering and receiving presents to be distributed to family and friends. It is amazing that we all set a budget of how much money we will spend for presents and we always exceed it. I became disappointed that it has taken me this long to truly understand what Christmas was about. Even watching The Christmas Carol and getting to the great part in the movie where Ebenezeer Scrooge had changed from a negative and taker personality to one of exhuberance and giving that I still never fully integrated these traits into my life. I love giving but much of it was the gift of a check or a phsyical gift instead of the one and only true gift which is love for your fellow man and giving your time to lonely, sick or depressed people. The gift of love that God sent his only Son - Jesus Christ to us is the ultimate gift of Christmas. That is why I am off to the confessional box this afternoon. After that I will try to find ways to give more of my time and efforts to love not only our family members, but acquaintances and even strangers. To all of my Jewish friends, celebrating their 8 day Chanukah - giving is expected. I am sure they would find some part of my message to impact how they spend their time. I always wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I feel as if John the Baptist poured water on my forehead and has changed me for my remaining years. I will search out opportunities that I can properly give the gift of time and empathy to my fellow man. I will leave you with this following story for those that have children or grandchildren - On Christmas morning, the children would wake up Dad and Mom and would want to open their presents as soon as possible. Santa Claus has come and put presents under the Christmas Tree. But this Dad would gather the family around him - and they would all kneel in front of Jesuss creche - and recite from Gospel of Luke 2: 1-20 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. I urge everyone to try to be more of a giver than taker and I believe we can make the world a better place. God bless all of you! Scooter - Larry
Posted on: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 02:35:04 +0000
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015