What is a Gift? 4

Fides et Ratio

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1. Preparation Narratio Salvation History Augustine[1]

A gift from our Father

The earth is the Lord’s, and he is its King. Way back in Genesis, he proved himself generous, creating a world full of infinite displays of beauty – not only to show his brilliance and creativity, but to bring us joy – so many there is no way to count them all. Psalm 16 says he is always carrying pleasures in his right hand, forever.

He created man and woman to live in this place, he created so full of wonders and to receive his love. But they brought sin into it. God does not cohabitate with sin, so the result was separation from him, a separation that we inherit.

Mankind has continued the pattern Israel set through centuries: We reject the eternal, invisible, immortal, only wise King and desire to rule ourselves. But he loves us, despite all this. And he knows our needs better than we do.

And, so, the world was (and we are) in need of redemption, a redemption God knew about before the world began. It’s hard to imagine, but awe-inspiring to think that he chose us to be in Christ, reconciled to himself, before the tragic events in the garden ever took place (Ephesians 1:3-8).

He thought of us before time, and the solution he thought of was a gift, something that would cost the most precious thing he had, but without which we would be separated from him forever.

Let it sink in. God knew who we would be and wanted us. And though the creation was full of thousands of versions of flowers and plants and trees and animals and waters and stars and stones, he chose the only thing he had only one of. He chose to send us his Son.[2]

Unfathomable love, eternity to meditate on it, no plumbing of its depths

VII. How to choose a gift?

But we are conscious that our gifts remind us of the greatest gift of all time. God has given his own Son to us as our savior and redeemer. We give to each other humble gifts of love to celebrate God’s greatest gift of love – Jesus Christ.[3] Our gift giving should have some resemblance to the Father’s gift of His Son.

Resemblance to the Son, lost the measure of the gift

[1] https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/study/module/augustine/ accessed October 28, 2024

[2] https://www.ncfgiving.com/stories/the-gift-of-our-generous-god-and-king/ accessed October 28, 2024

[3] https://catholicreview.org/greatest-gift-of-love/ accessed October 28, 2024

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