Gospel Vision
Gifted…To Give
By: Fr. Jim Thoman, CP
In his 1st Letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul asks his readers, “What do you possess that you have not received?” His powerful question captures the Christian spirituality of thanksgiving.
Our faith teaches that our God is the giver of all gifts. We believe that life itself, the goods of the earth, personal talents and achievement, the love and care of others, the blessings of shared faith — all these rich blessings are the result of God’s action. Faith binds us in trust to the God who is Love … total, super-abundant self-gift made flesh in the person of Jesus Christ.
This faith vision is the core of Jesus’ life and message. He personally gave freely and completely, for he had received everything from the Father. He poured out all he had into the lives and hearts of his disciples and sent them forth in his name with his mission.
The early Christian community is described as sharing everything with one another so that none would be in want. The great sin was hoarding!
Our annual Thanksgiving holiday can also be a call to renewed faith. This beautiful holiday reminds us of the essential Christian truth that happiness is found in giving, in focusing our sights on the needs and concerns of others. In doing this we render God our best thanks.
