Loading...Dear Friends in Christ,
What do you want for Christmas? That’s the age old question, isn’t it? What do you want for Christmas? Do you remember the one thing you wanted most of all as a kid? Ralphie, from the movie “A Christmas Story,” wanted most of all a Red Ryder super-duper BB gun, but everybody told him he would shoot his eye out. He didn’t but almost did. I think the most wanted gift for me was a football uniform. My dad played football, one of my big brothers played football so I wanted to be like them. I didn’t get it. My mom said she looked everywhere but couldn’t find one. Maybe that was why I looked everywhere for a football uniform when Allen was a little boy. All too often we parents get our kids the things we really wanted. Besides, I never played football. I was in the band. My parents did buy me a trombone.
As we grow older and have a family, we begin to think about what we can give instead of what we can get. Being married and having children seems to work a miracle in us that “I” becomes “we” and hopefully “you.” That really is what Christmas is all about, giving to others and sharing with others. That is what being a Christian is all about. It is not about telling others how good you are like a child writing a letter to Santa Claus; it is about living what Jesus teaches us. The old saying there are talkers and there are doers has a lot of truth in it. Telling someone that you are a good Christian doesn’t mean a thing if it is all about you. You don’t have to tell people; they know it if you are or if you aren’t. Besides, if you truly are a Christian, you are good.
We read in Matthew these words, “Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing. I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you? And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’” That is what we are to do – feed, give drink, dress, visit, care and love. That is what Christians do.
What would you do if you met Jesus as you walk into the store? Would you jump in front of him in the check-out line? What would you do if Jesus was the cashier? Would you be short with him and give him a hard time? We are to see the face of Jesus in everyone we meet and treat them accordingly. That is what Jesus did.
I hope you have a very Merry Christmas. I hope you get what you want. More importantly, I hope you give what is wanted, give what is needed, and love giving it. May God continue to bless you.
In Christ’s Love,
Father Russ
