Every Good and Perfect Gift

Near the conclusion of every Divine Liturgy is “The Prayer Before the Ambo.”  A portion of it reads, “For every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from you, the Father of Lights.”  This, of course, has as its source St James 1: 17.

Gifts and gift giving are part of the Christmas tradition, but any gift given by a human being to another pales in comparison to the Gift that is truly good and perfect which came down from the Father of Lights, that is his gift of Jesus:

For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life (St John 3: 16).

The Father’s Gift, his Son, is God of God, Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten not made, of one essence with the Father.

Gifts are to give delight, joy, and gratitude.  That is certainly the case when one thinks of a gift given from a parent, spouse, or friend.  Yet, isn’t it also the case, though, that such gifts are generally and eventually forgotten.  They are no longer valued, and ultimately discarded.

“For every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from you, the Father of Lights.”  However, some gifts that may come from the Father of Lights may not be received by us initially with delight, joy, and gratitude.

Can a good and perfect gift from the Father of Lights be difficult to receive with delight, joy, and gratitude?  The answer is, yes.  But, the wisdom of faith must alter our perspective and perception.  With the eyes of faith and wisdom a difficult and troubling gift can be received into one’s heart.  I recall two such gifts.  One was very challenging, the other was less difficult to receive, but both gifts permanently changed my life for the better.

During the Fall of October, 1997 I received a challenging and harsh gift.  I was working as a clinical pharmacist at a hospital located in south King County in Washington State.  For much of my life I had a problem with anger.  Occasionally, such anger flashed for a moment and then receded.  But in one case, anger exploded.  I was, rightly, called on the carpet.  I was suspended without pay for five days, then had to have repeated counseling sessions for an indefinite time.  My first reaction was to reject this gift.  I applied for another position at another area hospital.  I justified myself not realizing that anger, once and for all, had to dramatically diminish in my life.   St James informs us:

Know this, my beloved brethren.  Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God (St James 1: 19 – 20).

But, while I was suspended and grumbling, I received a message:  “Submit, then you will have victory.”  And, so I did.  And, of course, I entered into victory — the monster was reduced to a tiny mouse (well, in my case, at least a modestly sized rat).  The counseling sessions came to an early end.  Relationships were mended, and I moved through the rest of my time at this hospital with joy and humor.

The second gift also occurred while working at the same hospital in May, 2002.  I had just completed my seminary education.  During this time I sensed an inconsistency in my life.  I had discovered the Eucharist and embraced it whole heartedly.  But, I was missing something:  What I had in my head had not yet moved truly into my heart.  I did not yet receive all things into my being with thanksgiving.

The day was beautiful in the morning sun.  As I was walking from my car to the hospital, I asked God to help connect my head to my heart.  For some reason I had to work in the central pharmacy with all of its given challenges.   It was an exceptionally stressful day.  The phones were ringing off their hooks.  I felt the tension and stress all others felt.  The phone by my desk rang and and I engaged the surrounding irritation.  But, another message came my way:  “Say thank you!”  I said thank you for the annoying phone call which was a gift in disguise.  At the other end of the phone was the most annoying nurse in the hospital.  I listened to her express her trouble.  I went to the medical floor she worked on and solved her problem.  Not only was the problem solved, but my attitude about her changed — she suddenly became “delightful”, or as close as she could be to this state of being.  My head and heart were united by this gift’s insight to the Eucharist (which means thanksgiving) — I am to give thanks for all things, circumstances, and people.

With this spiritual insight, all events, situations, and people — however difficult — can be received as gifts from the Father of Lights.  Even, pain, illness, etc., can be received as gifts, and the power of prayer and thanksgiving transforms them to empowering gifts.  We have this instruction from St Paul to his spiritual son, Timothy:

For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is consecrated through the word of God and prayer (1 Timothy 4: 4 – 5).

All things, thus, can be seen as gifts from the Father of Lights.  For all matters and circumstances that come our way, I present words for St Paul by which I try to live every day.  I use them to guide me that I might walk in the ways of our Lord:

Rejoice always.  Pray constantly.  Give thanks in, with, and for all things; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5: 16 – 18).

And so it is Christmas!  We have prepared ourselves once more to receive the Divine Infant — the Good and Perfect Gift from the Father of Lights into our hearts.  We do this so that Jesus can be formed within.  Thus, all things can be seen as gifts for the Father of Lights. All such gifts when received from the Father of Lights with gratitude will further form Christ in us, so that we might bear Christ into all settings of life.  If we do this, then every day will offer a touch of Christmas!

Christ is born!  Glorify him!

Here is an abbreviated homily that corresponds to this posting:

In Christ, and in every good and perfect gift from the Father of Lights,

Fr Irenaeus