Living the Christian life can be seen as giving and receiving. First, Jesus gives himself to us, we receive him and then we give ourselves to him. Lately, I have been contemplating just how well I have been able to receive Jesus. How open and prepared am I to have him be the Lord, Savior, and Center of my life? Another question, how open and prepared am I to receive the love others have for me? How have I hurt others by not accepting and being receptive of the love they have had for me?
While these questions may sound confusing, sometimes it is much harder to receive love than it is to give it. Sometimes it is easier to give my self to God than it is to receive him. A case in point is that when we go to communion, we give ourselves to God, but do we really receive him and all that he has for us? When we, as Catholics, go to confession, do we accept the grace offered by the sacrament, or do we carry on as usual, not really receiving the love to improve?
One man told me that he had a niece who hated him and that he had no clue as to why. He then went on to say that at one time he was very close to her and that she was very important to him. Then it all changed. He then confessed that there was a time when his niece was giving her love to him. Instead of graciously accepting this love he pushed her away, not able to receive this wonderful love. He also spoke of a time when he fell in love but would not allow himself to receive the love offered to him. He simply could not receive the love these two people had for him. Why? It is a topic for another day.
Through tears, he spoke of how different his life would have been if he had only been able to receive the love that these and other people had for him. He then spoke of the most wonderful love God has for him, but he wondered if he would ever be able to receive that love. For this man, it was not enough to give himself to others, he needed to be able to receive the love they had for him yet could not. How many opportunities for joy and happiness do we miss because we cannot receive love?
Thankfully, he said that he has become aware that it is not enough to give yourself to others, it is important to receive the love they have for you. He pledged that he would always try to receive and not just give. “Eye has not seen, and ear has not heard what good things the Lord has in store for those who love him.”
“May the Lord bless and keep you. May he let his face shine upon you, be gracious to you and give you his peace.”
