The Gift Goes On...
The Christmas Season is a time for presents and giving. To know Christ is the perfect gift! The reign of God empowers the world. We must embody the work of Jesus so that we may accept Christ fully when He comes. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life”(John 3:16).
We are reminded daily of the depth of God’s mercy, but do we realize what a gift this truly is? The culture we live in is steeped in sin and moral decay. When human souls are united with the long-awaited peace of God, the earth will be renewed. His mercy prepares us for an everlasting inheritance in His Kingdom. To obtain true peace in the world, we must realize that the primary purpose for our existence in this temporary life is eternal salvation.
God provides a full circle of love for us so that our souls can be redeemed! Through Mary, by the power of the Holy Spirit, God the Father gave us Jesus. Through the ministry of Jesus and His life on earth, God gave us the priesthood. Through this gift, we have the Eucharist and Sacraments, which strengthen our souls through the Grace of God. Do we appreciate the priests in our lives that sacrifice so much to give us hope for eternal life?
I read a letter written by Father John Catoir to his brother priests. Father Catoir is 85 years old, and has been a Catholic priest for 56 years. He is the founder and current president of the St. Jude Media Ministry, a national apostolate, which uses radio and TV to reach out to the millions of unchurched people in America. He is also a columnist for Catholic News Service.
His message to the priests is very touching. He expressed thanks to them for their ministry and sacrifice. He wrote, “You, Father, have lived through turbulent times. The exaltation of exaggerated individualism has caused many problems. As the baby boomers now begin to retire, all of us need to consider their legacy. They were caught up in the sexual liberation movement, and many of them rejected the religious values of their parents. Sexual promiscuity, smoking pot and experimenting with drugs all contributed to a soaring divorce rate. The human misery that followed has been disturbing the peace of our culture ever since. Dear Father, it has not been easy, but though it all, you have remained a carrier of divine love, a true believer and a spiritual leader in the battle against Satan. Keep depending on the Lord’s strength, and all will be well.”
This same message of hope is available to all of us, especially during the Christmas season. It is our legacy to share the gift of knowing Jesus to those we love! Many priests will be offering the holy sacrifice of the Mass around the world to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Personally invite family members to attend Mass with you this Christmas, and every Sunday, to find strength in the Lord, by returning to their Catholic roots.
When you look at the child in the manger this Christmas, please remember the price that was paid for our perfect gift … eternal salvation. And God bless all the priests of the world who give their lives to make ours more perfect, as the gift goes on! Amen!
