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. Imagine that! Once we
liberate ourselves from our Creator, 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 responds 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,
Mary and John the Baptist 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, to look
forward to the life that is 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 in silence.
God bless and keep you and your loved ones close to
him, now and always.
Enjoy the day!
Deacon Tom
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