---

Several years ago on Christmas Eve, noted biblical scholar Cardinal Carlo Martini of Milan, Italy, shared a delightful story with his congregation.

"One Christmas Eve, Jesus returns visibly to earth. He is in the presence of a large number of children. The children recognize Him and are overjoyed that He is among them. One of the children asks Him for a gift. Another boy voices a complaint: "Where are the gifts? Why are you empty-handed?"

Jesus does not reply, but opens His arms to them. Many of the children are disappointed. "It is true what my dad says," one muses. "Religion is nonsense. It gives us nothing, no gifts."

But the gesture of Jesus is not lost on another child, who says: "When Jesus opens His arms, He means to say that He is bringing Himself. He is the gift. He is the one who gives Himself to us."

The mystery of Christmas can be summed up in one brief sentence: God desired to make Himself a gift for all mankind. The one unique and priceless Christmas gift is Christ Jesus.

Recall the words of the prophet Isaiah: "A child is born to us. A son is given us" (Is 9:5). St. Luke also speaks of Christ as a gift in his Gospel account of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem: "A savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord" (Lk 2:11).

In the Western world, Christmas has become a joyful day of gift-giving, in imitation of the God who has given Himself to us!

In anticipation of the holy day, the learned Jesuit priest Rev. Gerald O'Collins took a rather unusual step. Having spent years in the company of bright students, scholars and theologians, he decided to turn to Christians who hadn't spent long years of study. He asked a teacher from New York City what Christmas meant to her.

"What can I say?" she replied, "God, for some strange reason, gave us his Son. God's willingness to give us His all makes Christmas a time for giving." Another person said, "You may think this odd: I like the commercialization of Christmas. All that pressure to give each other gifts only draws attention to the fact that the Father gave us His gift."

Every gift is a symbol of our love and affection for another person. That is precisely why every effort is made to find the perfect gift. If we fail to find the perfect gift, the gift that best expresses our loving heart, we are likely to be disappointed.

Whether the gift is expensive or not matters little. If we have not invested ourselves, our gift is too small. Our heart is like a perfectly (or imperfectly) wrapped Christmas present. In giving to others, we are afforded an extraordinary grace into the meaning of Christmas. As the author of the fourth Gospel reminds his readers, "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son" (Jn 3:16).

Charles Schulz, the creator of the enormously popular "Peanuts" comic strip, had a deep appreciation of the significance of a simple gift. In one amusing entry, the hapless Charlie Brown complains to his friend, Peppermint Patty, about his joyless Christmas: "Christmas is all over, and I didn't get a single Christmas card. Nobody likes me."

Patty tries to lift his spirits. "Well, don't forget, Charlie Brown, when people send cards to your mother and father, they mean to include you." A glum Charlie brown replies, "My mom and dad did not get any, either."

Another friend, Violet, hopes to console her bereft friend. "I'm so sorry, Charlie Brown."

"About what?" he asked.

"I heard that you didn't get a single Christmas card."

"Oh, I finally got one. I am the only person I know who had to go out and buy himself a Christmas card."

If you find yourself sad or, even worse, despairing this Christmas, know that you are loved. As the great St. Paul said, the grace of God has appeared (Titus 2:11). There can be no greater proof, no more convincing evidence of God's love for us the mystery of the incarnation: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (Jn 1:14). Jesus is the cause of our joy.

I suspect that, in telling his story, Cardinal Martini likely had the Eucharist in mind. On Christmas Eve and Day, we Catholics are in Bethlehem, the "house of bread." In the Eucharist, Christ draws near to us and gives Himself as nourishment for our souls. We gather as a family around the table of the Lord to share a wonderful fellowship in the company of Christ, our divine host and the "Bread of Life."

Let us not forget our role in bringing Christmas joy to others, too. We are given many opportunities to share our gifts. Recall the oft-recited words from the prayer of St. Francis: "For it is in giving that we receive."

For us faithful Christians, Christmas does not mean "coal in our stockings" or the derisive words, "Bah! Humbug," but rather the gift of a divine child who is placed in our hands. What we do with this most precious gift is all that really matters!

Come, let us adore Him!

(Father Yanas is pastor of Sacred Heart parish in Troy.)[[In-content Ad]]

---