Deacon
Tom writes,
“I come to do your will, O God”
Isn’t it strange that the one thing that can keep us
furthest from God’s love is the very gift God intended to draw us closest to him? It’s this unique gift of “Free Will”
that flows from God’s unimaginable love for us that enables us to say “No”
to him. When we misuse this gift, we are free to reject him completely; we can
ignore him when it is convenient to do so; we can even deny that he exists. Then we are completely free to live our
lives with reckless abandon trying to find substitutes for those very things
God intended us to have from the beginning – our complete joy and happiness. But
striking out on our own to find “the good
life” usually has dire and “unintended”
consequences.
Of course, God did not
intend for us to use the gift of “Free Will” to reject him. In giving us this gift God revealed
something about himself. He revealed his unconditional love for us and for all
his creation. No “normal” parent gives their children something that would harm
them. The giving of gifts reflects the deep love parents have for their
children. Genuine giving is an intimate sharing of parents’ desire for their children
to experience joy and happiness here in this life, to reach their full
potential as they mature into adulthood, and one day to enter into eternal life
for which we were all created.
In the Second Reading today, St. Paul quotes Jesus’
words letting us know that he is aware of the gift he has received from God,
and that he knows how to respond to that gift. He responds to the precious gift
of free will by saying “Yes” to God.
In the Gospel, Mary is visiting her cousin Elizabeth to share with her the good
news of how God responded to her saying, “Yes” to him. Both Jesus and Mary use the gift of
their free will by submitting themselves to God and disposing themselves to do
all that God asks them to do. Jesus and Mary know and teach us that this is the
only way for us to fully experience all that God has promised us in this
life….and, in the one to come.
As we prepare to exchange gifts this Christmas, let
us recall the gifts that we have received from God. And, let us respond
joyfully to the many other gifts we have been blessed with over the years by
echoing Jesus’ words, “I come to do your will, O God” and then,
sit quietly and await his response. He surely will.
God bless and keep you and your loved ones close to him, now and always.
Enjoy
the day!
Deacon Tom
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