top receivers
"All ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over — seven baskets full." —Matthew 15:37
God is a big Giver. In fact, He gives more than has been given by all the other givers in the world combined. "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son" (Jn 3:16).
God, being such a big Giver, often gives much more than we are willing to receive. He gives a mile (or even a light-year), and we take only an inch. To increase our capacity to receive His abundant, overflowing gifts, each Advent the Church reads to us God's word (see Acts 20:32). The Church especially highlights the book of Isaiah and many Gospel passages depicting Jesus giving the great gifts of healing, deliverance, and miracles.
As we receive the gift of God's word, we receive the gift of greater faith (Rm 10:17). Then by faith we receive the greatest Gift and the greatest Giver, that is, the Holy Spirit. In the Holy Spirit, we have an enormously increased capacity to receive God's gifts. Then we can receive God's gifts at Christmas, in life, and for eternal life. Filled with God's gifts, we in turn give the gift of our whole lives to God.
Receive much more, and give all to God.
Prayer: Father, do whatever it takes to make me a top receiver.
Promise: "Behold our God, to Whom we looked to save us!" —Is 25:9
Praise: St. John prayed: "Whatever I do, let it be in accordance with Your will, now until the end."
Reference: (To receive the gift of God's word, read the Bible daily. For encouragement, order any or all of these audio or video tapes: Ignorance of Scriptures is Ignorance of Christ, AV 82-1, V-82, How to Pray the Bible on audio AV 82-3 or on video V-82, How To Read the Bible on audio AV 46-3 or on video V-46, Principles of Bible Interpretation, audio AV 79-1, video V-79.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend David L. Zink, June 12, 2002
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 13, 2002