Beautifullystillalive - Cottage Core Ish

The Flight Into Egypt, Victor Paul Mohn

Consider God's word in all you do.

What makes a truly great gift?

What makes a truly great gift?

Cost? Sentimental value? One-of-a-kind? They’ll use it every day? There’s always the cliché – “it’s the thought that counts.”

I struggle with what makes a truly great gift. But I do know how to ruin any gift.

Give it begrudgingly. With an attitude of “fine, if I have to.”

That kind of giving will turn the most amazing, unique, thoughtful gift into garbage.

I don’t know about you, but I would rather get nothing, than have something given to me begrudgingly. I’m not alone in that feeling.

If I do get something that was given begrudgingly, unless I can give it to a parish auction, it’s going straight into the trash.

The thing is, a lot of us have that idea about God’s gift of forgiveness.

That God doesn’t really want to forgive us. And if God actually does forgive us, it’s done begrudgingly.

Because we did something super Catholic. Or met some arcane requirement to receive an indulgence. Basically, we backed God into a corner with His own rules. And now He has to forgive us.

If that’s how it works, it’s unhealthy. To say the least. Why would you want anything to do with something that messed up?

Thank God that’s not how it works!

The thing to know about God is that God isn’t waiting for you to do something super Catholic or to meet some arcane requirement, before He forgives you. God’s waiting for half an excuse to forgive you.

Like a being genuinely sorry for about hurting someone. And asking for forgiveness.

A change of heart. That’s all God’s waiting for.

Because God’s approach to forgiveness is kind of the opposite of begrudging. We see it in today’s first reading,

“Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin? Who does not persist in anger but delights in clemency?”

Translation - You want to see God light up with joy? Ask for forgiveness.

Today’s Readings