By Susan Ciancio
Can you feel the excitement in the air? It’s already December and Christmas is just weeks away. Advent has begun, and hopefully you and your families are growing increasingly excited about the birth of our Savior. Advent literally means a time to prepare, so as we buy and wrap gifts, attend parties, and make cookies, let us prepare both our hearts and our minds for Christ’s birth.
God’s gift of His Son was the greatest gift we could ever receive. The saints understood this well, and through their lives and examples, they in turn give us immense gifts. This week, we celebrate the lives of two incredible saints—St. Francis Xavier and St. Nicholas of Myra.
St. Francis Xavier is one of the greatest evangelists the Church has had and is said to be second only to St. Paul in terms of how many people he helped convert. He gave the gift of his wisdom, his knowledge, and his time. St. Nicholas gave money to a poor family so that the daughters would not have to enter lives of prostitution. He not only gave them the gift of gold, but he gave them the gift of family and security—physical, mental, and spiritual.
The Church venerates these saints, and others, so that we can learn from them and emulate their behaviors. They are beautiful examples of how we should live our lives.
We know also that all of the saints were sinners, and many had vices and lived lives of decadence that they had to overcome. Through them, we can see that God can use anyone for good. No one is unforgivable.
Sometimes we need to remember that during the holiday season when we spend more time with family, friends, or acquaintances whom we may not like or whose behaviors we may not approve of.
During these times, let us ask ourselves how we can shine the light of Christ and which spiritual gifts we can give to these people.
Can we give our time? Maybe we call a cranky but lonely relative and tell them how much they mean to us. Maybe instead of spending time at the family party with the relatives we get along with and see regularly, we spend time with the ones who are lonely or sad. Maybe we visit an elderly relative in the nursing home. Or maybe we visit a stranger there.
Can we give our love of Christ? Sometimes it’s easier to not talk about God or our faith when we are around those who have lost their faith or don’t believe. But what if St. Francis Xavier had taken the easy way out? There are many who would never have known Christ. Christmastime is one of the best times of year to evangelize to your family and friends, and there are many ways to do this without making them feel cornered or overwhelmed. Think about some part of the season that fills you with the joy of Christ, then share that with them. Let them see your devotion, your love of God, and your faith.
Can you adopt a family or give food to a food bank? There are so many needy people this time of year. Your gifts can bring someone immense joy when they feel forgotten or stressed because they cannot give their families the Christmas they desire.
As you prepare your hearts and minds, remember John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life.”
When we accept the gift of Christ and then share Him with others, we build a culture of life where all people feel cherished, respected, and loved, and we build the path to our eternal reward with our Heavenly Father.