"The Perfect Gift": A Reflection on the Second Reading for September 2nd, 2018: Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

James 1.17-18, 21-22, 27

​Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

Welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

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​I love to give gifts. I also love the hunt for the perfect gift. I take into account all the little details about the person for whom I’m shopping: the right size, their favourite colour, their hobbies, what makes them laugh, what they need, and the list goes on! Ultimately, I give gifts to show love and bring a little joy. But sometimes I wonder if my giving is self-serving. I want the person to like — even love — the gift I give them. Sometimes I equate their like/love of the gift to their level of like/love for me. Do I really need to give to be worthy of another person’s love? The iver of the Perfect Gift doesn’t think so. 

As a disciple of Christ, the perfect gift is actually nothing that I can buy, but rather was already bought for me. Jesus “bought” me the perfect gift without basing it on my size, favourite colour, or current hobbies. He didn’t base it on my human sense of worthiness of The Giver, or in being the recipient of the gift. Jesus gave His life for me so that I would have life. Sometimes when I think about this — truly think about Christ’s sacrificial act of giving Himself — I am overwhelmed and saddened. I’m overwhelmed by this grand act of love that I did not ask for or do anything to earn — and yet it was freely given to benefit me. I’m saddened when I recognize the moments I take this gift for granted, and do not do anything with The Gift; when I don’t unwrap it to let it change me. As the writer of James’ letter cautions us, “Be doers of the word, not merely hearers who deceive themselves.” What use is a gift if it’s left wrapped-up? God’s gift of love to us is meant to be opened so that it can change us.

When we allow the Perfect Gift to change us — we become gift. All of us are uniquely gifted by God to be His light in this world. As someone who prefers to quietly blend into the background, I’ve had to remind myself that if I remain hidden, then so too are the gifts God gave me. That’s not what Jesus wants. It’s not what God created me for. Our Church is in crisis on so many levels that many find reasons to walk away. When people choose to leave, we as a Church lose the gift of these persons, and it saddens me. And why stay when it seems too many have forgotten the Perfect Gift they’ve been given? I stay because I haven’t forgotten. I stay because I want to be a doer of the Word, not merely a hearer of the Word — and I want to help others do the same. I stay because I have been given the Perfect Gift, and God needs me to give it to a world that needs it desperately.

​Aurea Sadi

"When we allow the Perfect Gift to change us — we become gift."
​- Aurea Sadi (Ora Reflections)