Gift Receipt

This Christmas season (12 days is not just a song on the radio) I was thinking of St John Vianney’s advice he gave to his Ars, France parish regarding doing little acts of mortification. He spoke to them, giving the following example very similar to his native France' St Therese, who would come down the pike shortly after his death with her “little way” of accepting the small crosses of everyday life without complaint. Vianney gave the example of us being at a reception of some type, say a wedding if I recall correctly, and there are pastries spread out on the table for us to eat.  I am paraphrasing here, but it went something like this “when you are invited to a reception, and there are fine foods laid out, and you are about to choose a dessert, well do a little mortification and choose the dessert you like the least.”  In that vein of thought, I have noticed “gift receipts” becoming more and more popular as they are offered and now even automatically printed when purchases are made for loved ones.  For Pete’s sake, if I cannot smile in gratitude toward what I have been given, and find a good use for it, what kind of Christian am I?  Even worse in a way, why are we being offered such a thing in the first place?  When has society become so self-centered that it cannot outweigh the thrill of the gift with the thrill of getting a gift?  St Paul, who abounds on how we are to express gratitude, would roll over in his grave at us today!  Such a thing was unheard of when I was growing up in the 80s, never mind my parents generation…

The aforementioned admonition of Vianney was a “light” one compared to some of his more frequent and heavier ones in his salvific, cannon-blast sermons...  I once asked a very holy priest, Fr Frank Papa, SOLT of Hartford, Connecticut why Fr Vianney’s sermons where so severe.  He responded, “have you ever heard of the donkey that wouldn’t move?  The owner pushed, pulled, and tried every other trick, and then he resorted to smacking it between the eyes with a big stick!”  Well, I don’t think the late Fr Papa had such a mean bone in his body, but the point was clear, St John Vianney needed to get the attention of his parishioners living in sin, and he sure did!  I wonder what kind of homily Fr Vianney would have today regarding the insanity in how the Christmas season is “celebrated” today?  I know I’m going to be scolded for this one by some of my Trad friends, but… would Fr Vianney approve of the “modern” Catechism? John Paul II’s Theology of the Body?  I know I really pushed the envelope with that last one!  I think St John Marie Vianney would totally incorporate the present Catechism, but with his no-hold-barred style in saving souls, like a St Paul.  We would be taken aback for sure!

The 12 days of Christmas, if taken seriously, should be an intense time of reflection of the awe we owe to God.  I like that, I’m coining it – “the awe we owe.”  God became man in Jesus, and made himself more vulnerable than we can comprehend, yet had the most perfect of protection in His youth in St Joseph and Mother Mary.  Of all times, if I get an ugly tie for Christmas perhaps I could wear it to work in a penitential “fashion” similar to when St Philip Neri had a barber shave half his head and beard outside the church on Sunday as his flock filed in, in an attempt to help them gain a smattering of humility.  What if I cherished the intention someone had in getting me this ugly necktie?  Maybe they were thinking of their deceased father that liked goofy reindeer, or vomit-green, and they got lost in thought when they made the purchase. 

I have a late friend that reminded me of the Venerable Franciscan “saint,” Fr Solanus Casey.  Fr Solanus would wear anything that was given him, I would imagine in his humble holiness.  I thought of Fr Solanus' humility when I saw a picture of him donning huge, ruddy-framed eyeglasses quite possibly given to him.  My late friend would wear this most embarrassing pair of sunglasses that were given to him. He just treasured the little stuff. This humility reminded me of Solanus, as my friend wouldn't even think twice of how goofy he looked in these!  He was just grateful he wasn’t blinded by the sun, having zero self-consciousness; sometimes I think Our Lady protects us like a pair of sunglasses in a way, we cannot go forward without her prayers and intercession, or the glory and brightness of Christ would blind us and set us off course.

How about our family member, friend or loved one?  Are they the “least of God’s brethren” in a way?  Do they struggle with an overwhelming illness, be it phsyical or psychological?  Should we not all the more see the thought people put into something they give us with a good judgement?  If we see Christ in the action and thought of what was given, perhaps we got what we need, not what we want – and that is the core of being a follower of Christ, doing what we need to do, not always what we want to do.  The next time any one of us is tempted to sin, just look at the Child in his creche, surrounded by cold air and stinky animals - whose breath kept Him warm. We know in following Jesus if there is no deposit there is no return.  In a way, the misery of the creche (outside His parents love) was the first Cross.

James 2:14-26

What shall it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but hath not works? Shall faith be able to save him?  And if a brother or sister be naked, and want daily food:  And one of you say to them: Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; yet give them not those things that are necessary for the body, what shall it profit?  So faith also, if it have not works, is dead in itself.

But some man will say: Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without works; and I will shew thee, by works, my faith.  Thou believest that there is one God. Thou dost well: the devils also believe and tremble.  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?  Was not Abraham our father justified by works, offering up Isaac his son upon the altar?  Seest thou, that faith did co-operate with his works; and by works faith was made perfect?  And the scripture was fulfilled, saying: Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him to justice, and he was called the friend of God.  Do you see that by works a man is justified; and not by faith only?  And in like manner also Rahab the harlot, was not she justified by works, receiving the messengers, and sending them out another way?  For even as the body without the spirit is dead; so also faith without works is dead.