What are you giving at Christmas?
+Rev. Economos Basil C. Gikas, DECEMBER 25, 2011

Have you consIdered what you give to Christ on HIS Birthday? What do you & I bring to the newborn babe who lies exposed in a manger with only swaddling clothes?

As a parish priest who struggles to maintain a sober, spiritual and purposeful observance of this holy season amidst the frenzy and man- created chaos and frenetic pace of people on highways, byways, shopping malls and stores, I wonder. What gift am I really giving God, Jesus the Newborn King on His day of birth?

I have reflected about this uncentered, distracted seasonal behavior at times and pondered what the Christ child would say of us as we rush, push, prod and poke at one another all for the sake of getting a gift item on sale, having a party event planned to perfection( with all kinds of catered non fasting foods), or engaging in some other distraction.

I wonder because after all it is the birthday of Jesus. Are we mindful of Him or someone else(like perhaps ourselves)? Are we asking everyone yet again thsi Christmas: "hey what did Santa get you?"
Better is it not to be asking what is my gift to Him Who gave His life for me?

These past nine years as your pastor I have been laboring to grasp, hold, wrap and present gifts to Christ. I tried to grasp you with a sermon or a smile, I tried to hold you at your times of illness or sorrow I tried to wrap you up in Christ`s love or presence and now I have to present you at His feet. Now the time has come for me to come to Him at Christmas( HIS DAY) on my knees and present the furits of my labor- ALL OF YOU my beloved faithful of Saint George Trenton! You are the gifts I lovingly labored for all this time during my nine year ministry. You with all your sinfulness and your sensitivity, you, with your gossipiness and your generousity, you, with your carelessness and your kind consideration, you, with all your weaknesses and all your wonderfulness, you, with all your curiousity and your compassion. You see that none of us, (Esp. me) are not perfect! Only one good and perfect human and divine gift comes from above- Jesus Who is the Christ!

I as your pastor, have been perparing you to be gifts to God. What else can we give Him, the Almighty? Only Our transformed (in His image & likeness) Christ centered selves!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GIFTS OVER THE YEARS TO ME AND MY FAMILY - WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION, DEVOTION AND DILIGENCE IN SERVING THE LORD.

I depart with the Lord`s words:
"love one another even as I have loved you"

Peace on earth, Goodwill towards Mankind, Merry Christmas CHRIST IS BORN! GLORIFY HIM!