Gift giving!

Readings for 2nd Sunday of Advent: Is 11:1-10, Ps 71, Rm 15:4-9, Mt 3, 1-12
Of course, Italy has little meditation books for everyday of the week like Magnificat which exists in France and the US.  I liked the thought behind the meditation book which I have.  It talks about gift giving.  You, like myself, might think it kind of strange to be talking about giving gifts on the 2nd Sunday of Advent, but I liked the thought.  Here is a kind of summary of what is written in "Messa Meditazione".

When we think about giving gifts, we are forced to think about the person to whom we want to give the gift.  We want to please that person, so we choose something we think he/she likes and/or needs.  In order for this gift to "function", a couple of things have to happen.  First, the giver must know the other person in order to think of just the right gift.  Secondly, the receiver has to be disposed to receive/accept the gift.  This happens also in our meetings with God.  His desire to give Himself to us must be met with our readiness to accept His gift.  This readiness, in today's gospel, is called "conversion".  The Greek term "metanoia" evokes a "change of mind" or "change of perspective".  The change to which we are called is to accept that the gift of the love of God isn't won or merited, but must be received and welcomed by us.

Therefore, let us welcome the love of God as He presents Himself to us in our day-to-day lives: in our struggles, our joys... in everything.  Let us think of one aspect of our life that needs much "conversion".  Let's ask God to help us change this aspect for the better so that we can love Him more and serve Him better.