As Father Abbot reminded us in this morning's homily, if we wish to give the Lord the gift of ourselves, our talents, all that we are, we must first realize and celebrate the amazing reality of God's Gift of Godself to us in Christ. God has given us everything in Christ, the Gift beyond our wildest dreams, the Gift of gifts.
What good fortune...See, Jesus is offered to you: run to him open-handed, throw out your arms and enfold him in your embrace. Prove your devotion in love and deed: take him to yourself without a qualm, this Son who is given to you; embrace him lovingly and linger with him always pressed to your heart.
The
Adoration of the Magi, Justus of Ghent (Joos van Wassenhove)
(Netherlandish, active by 1460–died ca. 1480), ca. 1465, Distemper on
canvas, 43 x 63 in. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Used with permission. Lines from the Second Sermon for Christmas of Blessed Guerric of Igny.