Baptism of the Lord, Year C
During the Christmas season, we have been exchanging gifts of all kinds. Gifts – small ones and bigger ones, ordinary and more unusual, wrapped in colourful paper and ribbons.
Some of them have brought delight, others we may have politely shown pleasure at receiving them but… we may have found them useless – either too big or too small in size, or definitely not to our liking. On the other hand, some gifts which we especially liked may soon be damaged, we will be sorry to see them broken or lost.
During that period, we have also received gifts… from God! Did you not include them on your list of… ‘things’ received? Well, in fact… they are not of the ‘thing category’ but, when giving blessings and favours, God gives HIMSELF.
In the 2nd reading of today’s feast: the Baptism of our Lord, Paul reminds his friend Titus (Titus 3:4-7) that God has given us his own Spirit: 
“the Holy Spirit which he has so generously poured over us through Jesus.”
God’s Spirit is his own gift to us and it will never be taken away, disappear, or be damaged.
When writing to the first Christians of Rome, Paul assured them: “God never takes back his gifts.” (Rom.11:29)
So, we have a most precious gift, totally ours, fully answering our needs and hopes, for all of 2019 and… for ever!
Note: Another reflection is available on a different theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/?p=12952
Source: Image: sec-gobiemorgen-rmi.blogshpot.com
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