Presence not Presents

“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; for He has come to His people and set them free.” Luke 1:68

Yesterday during mass, the priest’s homily was all about how our “presence” was more important than “presents” this Christmas. We can spend a lot of time buying and wrapping gifts, but we really need to spend time with our family, friends, and especially the sick members of our family and community. I feel guilty about this because it was also yesterday that my husband Luigi and I went around to drop our Christmas gifts at our friends’ homes and did not have the time to stop and even say “Hello”! It always seems to be rush rush rush. In the malls you see the never ending long lines at the cashier and I think about our staff and how they have no time to spend with their families. The malls close at midnight and the traffic is so bad it’s nicknamed “carmaggedon”! 

God did not and does not rush rush rush. He is ever patient in His plan for us to get to know Him. We celebrate Christmas because He gave us the first priceless Christmas gift, Himself, His presence. Immanuel means “God with us”. We always read, “Jesus is the reason for the season”, and that’s true. It is also true that you and me, WE are the reason for the season. God loves us so much He GAVE His only begotten Son that we who believe in Him, will not die but live with Him in friendship for eternity! (John 3:16)

Let us intentionally spend time with Him who loves us best. We will never conceive how long (forever), how wide (east to west and everywhere), how high (no limit to His forgiveness) and how deep is His love. Corrie Ten Boom, who was arrested and placed in Scheveningen for helping Jews escape, said, “There is no pit so deep, that God’s love is not deeper still.” 

God sent His Son so we would get to Know Him and His love for each and everyone of us. Come Immanuel, my spirit rejoices in You!