Saturday, December 7, 2013

Whole new meaning

Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.

So ends today's gospel.

We have just past both Black Friday and Cyber Monday and in the next two weeks how many millions will be spent, much of it on stuff that we neither need nor want? How much of this shopping will be done on credit cards that people can't afford to pay off?

While I'm not suggesting that we all turn into Ebenezar Scrooge, perhaps this reading reminds us that the best presents we can give this year may be things that cost us nothing. What does it really cost me to reach out to someone who is alone this season? What does it cost to let someone go ahead of you?

Give freely what we have received freely. — Love.