Receiving the gift
One phrase we often hear during the Christmas season is, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Interestingly, this line doesn’t appear in any of the Gospels, but St. Paul tells us that Jesus Himself taught this idea.
It’s certainly a wonderful principle to live by. But sometimes, the opposite is also true. There are moments when it is blessed to receive. And Christmas, I believe, is one of those times.
For one, when we receive gifts with grace, we honor the giver. Think of a child opening a new doll or toy on Christmas morning – their eyes wide with joy. The delight on the child’s face is matched, and perhaps even exceeded, by the parent who gave the gift.
In that moment, both the giver and the receiver share in love. Accepting a gift wholeheartedly is an act of love – because love, by its nature, must be received to be complete.
Christmas is also a time for receiving because only those who have received can truly give. John the Baptist could bear witness to the light because he had first received the light. Parents can only pass on faith to their children if they themselves have received and accepted that faith. In this way, receiving is not passive. It is what makes true giving possible.
And finally, Christmas is a time for receiving because it is the only way to accept God’s greatest gift. As the Gospel of John tells us: “But to all who received Him, who believed in His name, He gave power to become children of God.” We become God’s children not by earning or achieving, but by receiving; by opening our hearts to the gift of His Son.
So, this Christmas, pay attention to the joy on the faces of those who receive your gifts. Let their happiness remind you of the joy God feels when we receive His love. Take time to absorb that love deeply – and then give it away freely.
Because when we receive Christ, we receive everything: a new vision, a new hope and the everlasting gift of God’s presence within us.
