The Perfect Gift | PadreCast Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord

(The O. Henry story "The Gift of the Magi" ) reveals to us what we all desire in our relationships. We desire people to love us that much. And we would like to be able to love others that much.

 

Now Jesus, He wants you. He wants you to give yourself to Him. So how do you do that? You all know it's the same message we preach throughout the year: You cannot love the God you do not see, if you do not love those you can see. Jesus says, "You want to love Me? Love your neighbor."

 

Your closest neighbors are always your family. Spouses. Children. Parents. Those are your closest neighbors, and they're always the hardest to love because they are the closest. Which is why that's the test of love for Christ.

 

That's the sacrifice He wants from you. What are you willing to give up for Him to them?

 

It's important that we remember why we are sacrificing for family members. It's not because they deserve it. Most of the time, they don't. It's because Christ deserves it.

 

You know, Christ would deserve your sacrifice even if He had never died on the cross. The beauty of it is, He sacrificed Himself for us first. He loved us perfectly. He loved us to the end. And He wants us to love each other in that same way.

 

So that's the test throughout the year: to make this gift of yourself to Christ through sacrifice to those within your own family. You do that, and you will prove your love for Christ.

 

Father reminds us that at the conclusion of Mass he will offer a blessing to married couples and closes his homily with a brief and beautiful reminder on how spousal love and sacrifice are the models for children which teaches them how to love.

 

"During this commemoration of your vows, remember what you promised,
what you offered to God out of love for your spouse.

And be willing to fulfill that promise each and every day. "

 

 

Is 60:1-6; Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13: Eph 3:2-3a; Mt 2:1-12

 

You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our Youtube channel. Homily begins at 26:23