An Attitude of Gratitude for Christmas

It is easy for Christmas to be commercialized and to forget its true meaning. What many people may not realize is just as easy as having an attitude of gratitude for Christmas. No matter how many Christmas presents are under the tree or what hard time you find yourself in, God has given us the best Christmas gift of all. As Catholics, we know the answer and it is not just Jesus in the manger we place outside of our homes, but Jesus in the Eucharistic feast as well as seeing Christ in one another.

So, how can we show gratitude? One way is to pray a gratitude rosary.  Each bead you thank God for a blessing He has bestowed upon you. Another way is to every night for the new year, write in your gratitude journal. List at least three things that happened that day that you are grateful for and praise God for it. You will see God’s wonderful plan for you beautifully unfold day by day.

Yes, we know sometimes it is hard to follow Jesus because of our sin and selfishness, but it is always worth it to surrender to God’s Will. In the end, we will meet God face to face and see all the people whom we touched in our lives since we recognized the face of Jesus in them on earth.  Hopefully, God will then say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Come, share Your Master’s joy,” to us for we have done His Will like in the parable of the talents:

It will be as when a man who was going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one – to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money. After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.'(Then) the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.’His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’ Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.’ His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth (Matthew 25:14-30 The New American Bible).

Let us also note that God gives each one of us special gifts inside of us and it is up to us to recognize these gifts and share them with the world. Furthermore, when we share these gifts, it is important to see the face of Christ in the hearts of other individuals. Christ loved them into existence and they have a place in Heaven just as much as we do. If they do not realize this, it is up to us to share Christ’s love with them, so they may want the same warmth and peace as well,   the kind of warmth and peace that only Christ can give. Only Christ can satisfy our hungry hearts.

Let us recognize that God has a loving plan for each one of us. It is our duty to help each other on our journeys. God even says in Sacred Scripture.

For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans to give you a future full of hope (Jeremiah 29:11, NAB).

My gift to you this Christmas Day is a prayer I have written so that we may be more grateful this Christmas and all the Christmases to come.

Thank you Our Lord Jesus Christ for the gift of Yourself in the manger and the Heavenly Banquet at the table. You bring us so much hope, peace, joy, love, and light. Let us always reject sin and grow in virtue. Guide us on the path to Heaven. The way is narrow. Sometimes the cross is heavy, but you have tread this way before us. You have given us an example to be guided by. Let me always see Your Face in the faces all around me as I celebrate this Christmas and the new year to come. Amen.