The Gift of Jesus

AMDG

Elizabeth says, "As soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy." (Luke 1:44)

John is blessed in the womb of his mother, but he recognizes the presence of Jesus through the voice of Mary. It is through Mary that we receive the blessing of Jesus.

We honor both the Son and Mary.

God gives us His Son, but He gives Him to us through Mary. Jesus breathes and hears through Mary for those nine months. Yes, we believe that only Christ can save us, but Christ gives us His blessings through Mary.

We cannot separate what God has united. Mother and Son are together. We adore the Son because He is God, and we honor the Mother because she is His Mother.

Mother with the same words of the Angel

This Christmas, prepare a gift for both. To the Mother, a great gift is to repeat the greetings of the Angel and of Elizabeth: "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you..." — words we pray in the Rosary.

And to Jesus, what would be the best gift for Him? What are you preparing for Him this Christmas? Everyone is expecting gifts, but what are you preparing for Jesus? What would be the best gift for Him?

Saint Jerome’s Story

Saint Jerome was a wealthy man who dedicated his life to penance and reading the Scriptures. He moved to Bethlehem, where he spent the last part of his life in a cave, doing penance. Then, he had a profound experience. The Child Jesus appeared to him and asked, "Jerome, tomorrow is my birthday; what are you going to give me for my birthday?"

Jerome answered, "Lord, I give you my health, my fame, my honor, so that you may use them as you see fit."

The Child Jesus responded, "And will you not give me anything else?"

Jerome, in great humility, exclaimed, "Oh, my beloved Savior, for You I have already given my possessions to the poor. For You, I have dedicated my time to studying the Holy Scriptures... What more can I give You? If You wish, I would give You my body to burn it in a fire, so that I might wear myself out for You."

The Divine Child replied, "Jerome, give me your sins, so that I may forgive them."

The Greatest Gift for Jesus

There is no greater gift you can give to Jesus than to repent and confess your sins. He came down to forgive our sins.

However, you will not experience the true peace of Christmas until you receive the peace of God in your soul. Many people are worried—perhaps because a family member won’t be with them for Christmas, or because of concerns about the decorations, the dinner, or the gifts.

But all of these are just the wrapping, the outer packaging.

The core, the true gift, is God, who desires to come to you. Unless you give Him your sins, you won’t experience the joy of Christmas.

There is no other way to receive this peace than through the Sacrament of Confession. I can tell you from experience that you won’t find the peace of Christmas unless you encounter the mercy of God through this Sacrament.

And the sacrament is no only to unburden, but to empty ourselves to receive the fullness of God.

People are confused. They think that sins are forgiven only in private prayer or at the Act of Contrition at the beginning of Mass. But sins are forgiven in the Sacrament of Confession, when the priest, in the name of Christ, absolves us. As Jesus said to His Apostles: “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” (John 20:22-23)

Conclusion

So, if you want to experience the peace and joy of Christmas, give your sins to Jesus, and you will find the true peace and joy of this holy season.

Remember, Christmas is the birthday of Jesus. What will be your gift to Him?