"It is fitting that the feast of St. Nicholas comes at the beginning of Advent and the beginning of the shopper’s season. As the patron saint of shoppers he proclaims, ‘Keep it simple!’ Keep it simple enough to fit in a shoe or a stocking. "One gift that could fit in a…shoe, or in a stocking hanging on the fireplace, is a note that speaks of one of our most precious gifts, the gift of time. Such a St. Nicholas note might read: ‘The gift I give to you is half an hour of quality conversation each night right after the dishes are done.’ Or, ‘The gift I give to you is one Saturday a month to be with you and do whatever you want to do.’ We can appreciate the value of such a gift if we keep in mind that according to a recent survey, the average married couple in America has only 30 minutes a week of communication outside of exchanges that take place at the dinner table, and between parent and child is only 14 minutes. As you can see, the possibilities are almost unlimited for these St.Nicholas shoe gifts. (Fr. Edward Hays)
Today is the feast of our blessed Saint Nicholas. A time for us in Advent to pause, and once again reflect upon the true meaning of Christmas. I have chosen to begin today's reflection with a quote from Father Edward Hays. I feel he does a wonderful job in reminding us about the truest gift we can offer our loved ones; the gift of ourselves! Shopping centres everywhere are crowded, open later, and catering to those who are trying to purchase just the right gift. Amidst this commercialized chaos is the reality of an aching need for love, time, relationship, and for our Lord. Let us not get caught up in the glamorized culture of Christmas, but rather allow us to keep our eyes on the culture of Christ to which we belong. May we recognize the need in our own families, relationships, and our lives for the things that money can not buy. Allow us to examine ourselves and take note of the times we have not acted as a gift to our loves ones. May we use this holiday time to seek forgiveness, healing, and an honest commitment to exercising our hearts. (C.C.)
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