He will give us everything else along with Him

“If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all,  how will he not also give us everything else along with him?” (Rom 8: 31-32)

When we give a nice gift to our friends, we give them … a nice gift. When we give ourselves as a gift, we give “also . . . everything else along with” us. We are invited not only to give nice gifts but also to be a gift: total, free, creative and joyful. Total, because if we are not totally in, we are not in at all; free, because only in freedom can we be a gift; creative, because love is creative; and joyful, because everyone loves a joyful giver. God is first in our lives as a Giver and Gift: “He did not spare His own Son,” and He gave Him “for us all.”

“From the shining cloud the Father’s voice is heard: this is my beloved Son, listen to him.” (Gospel Acclamation)