Greatest Gift

In the past century or so, there have been a number of apparitions of Jesus or Mary, and they always seem to give us some instruction on prayer.

There’s a recurring theme in a number of these prayers, and it goes something like this: “My God, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord, Jesus Christ...” Then, that’s usually followed by offering reparation or atonement for the sins against Him.

But, who are we to offer up Jesus’ Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity? That doesn’t seem to be a gift that we can give or that we are able to give.

But, we must remember a very simple and humbling truth — we are nothing. Our very creation and existence is because of God. If He didn’t will it, we would fall back into nothingness. And, when we remember how we can do nothing on our own, that we are fully dependent on Him, we realize that everything we have are gifts given to us by God. Our bodies, our souls, our homes, our families, our work, our health, our faith, and the very lives within us are all gifts. And, as followers of Christ, we are called to offer those up to God. To give all that we have for the glory of Him.

But, none of these gifts come close to the greatest gift we have ever received: Jesus’ Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. What can we do with the greatest gift ever given? We can give it back.

We should give it back not in a I don’t want this or I don’t need this or I already have one kind of way, but in a God, this is all of me, this is everything I have, and there is nothing more I can offer kind of way.

It is only by God’s goodness that we receive such a gift, and are able to give it back.