An Advent Reflection
by Jerry Aaker
She
out of her poverty has put in everything she had.
Mark 12:44
As we move through the Advent season towards
Christmas our thoughts turn to gift giving.
Christians and non-Christians alike get enthused about buying a gift for
everyone on their lists at this time of the year as we are encouraged by a
massive marketing campaign to spend lots of money. We will hear of Ebenezer
Scrooge again in the retelling of Dickens' Christmas story and that even the
stingiest among us can be generous - or should be. One writer said that the
story by Dickens has probably done as much to form our notions of Christmas as
the St Luke story of the manger. Dickens suggests that down deep even the worst
of us can become generous, giving people.
Both stories - Luke's and Dickens' - get us into the
spirit of Christmas. However, the Gospel story is really not only about how
blessed it is to be givers, but about how essential it is to see ourselves as gracious
receivers. Being a good receiver is hard, especially if we get a gift we had
not expected or think that we did not deserve. Then, we always think we have to
reciprocate - "Oh no, I got a gift from someone that I had not even thought
about buying for and I feel terrible about receiving this gift!".
But, think about it, God gave a gift so extra
ordinary that all we can do is accept it. And we don't have to feel guilty
about it, either.
Think about the people in your life who have given
you that which is of much greater value than any material gift - the gifts of love,
faithful witness and service to others and to the church, expressions of
thoughtfulness, small actions of caring, hospitality and telling us "I'm praying
for you" - and meaning it.
We all have stories from our churches, families and
communities about people who give of themselves in quiet and constant
ways. So, during this preparation time,
this waiting time called Advent, why not take some time to remember those
people in our lives, now and in the past, who have been gifts to us? Just pause - maybe even once a day during
Advent - and put aside thoughts of being the gift buyer and giver and reflect
on being a thankful receiver of good gifts.
The story, "God is Able", from Uganda illustrates this sentiment well, I think.
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