This Most Holy Trinity Sunday we read what is probably the most famous verse in the Bible – John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gives his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” How awesome the gift of eternal life! I can’t hardly wrap my mind around that – eternal life – can you?
But when you think about who God is, He gives. He gives us Himself. He gives us His Son Jesus. And He gives us the Holy Spirit – the Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Spirit. He gives us Himself in the Eucharist.
God gives so lavishly. He gives us the gifts of His Spirit – Wisdom, Understanding, Fortitude, Fear of the Lord, Piety, Counsel, Knowledge. And His fruits – love, joy, self-control, kindness, peace, patience, goodness, gentleness, generosity, thankfulness – all we need. He gives us everything! His generosity is boundless. It is overwhelming.
As disciples, we strive to be like Him. When we give, we are like Him. When our giving is sacrificial, when it causes us to stretch—is a bit uncomfortable and for the benefit of others—then in our small-scale way we approach the sacrificial self-giving of Jesus on the cross.
I love what St. Teresa of Calcutta has to say about it, “It is not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.”
Photo Credit: Robert Davis
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