Giving Our All

When it comes to Christmas, we often hear that it is the thought that matters. We are taught that it isn’t about how much we spend on a gift that makes it valuable. It can be difficult to navigate the stormy waters of gift giving and buying for Christmas, especially in the light of today’s Gospel.

At that time, as Jesus was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’ ” And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth.” And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” At that saying his countenance fell, and he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” – Mark 10.17-27

Today’s reading is not particularly a Christmas passage, but it spoke to me this morning during Divine Liturgy. Tomorrow we will begin to celebrate Christmas, the day on which we commemorate the birth of God, Who gave it all up to leave heaven and come spend a few years on Earth for our salvation. In today’s Gospel we are challenged to consider how much we like our wealth vs how much we love God. He gave it all for us. What will we give?

It is never too late to prepare your soul for Christmas. If haven’t started yet, start now. If you’ve been fasting and praying and attending Church, don’t give up thinking you’ve “done all these things” like the rich man in the Gospel. We can always do more, whether it is financially or spiritually. The point of the Gospel, especially as part of our preparations for Christmas, is to inspire us to give it all for God.