WE all desire to be happy, especially at Christmastime, we start preparing from now. It is advent time, all the world is in joyful expectation to see friends, family members, church brothers and sisters. The weather is cool, the grass is green, the flowers are blooming, the rivers are running — there is an excitement in the air. The heart of man is expecting happiness and peace. We wish to smile with each other. It is primordial time for joy.

But happiness is not pleasure. Do most of us think it is eating, drinking, laughing, merriment? Is it just fun, frivolity and partying? Is it spending on gifts and seeing who gets and gives the best of Christmas presents? Do we want the most expensive, the most beautiful and rarest of presents given to us as Christmas gifts?

The word “Jesus” comes to me as the most precious of gifts. He is the best gift that could be given or received at Christmas time. He is the greatest gift that the entire world has ever received. Conversations about Him, holding hands with each other, embracing each other in the name of Jesus the baby child — all done to celebrate Christ our Lord coming into the world for everyone of us — is the gift of gifts that the Father gives.

However, in modern times the mention of Christmas as the birthday of Christ our Lord is not heard or acknowledged as a gift given on Christmas Day. But for the deep Christian, Christmas is most satisfying when we give of ourselves, when we give to the poor who cannot give us anything in return but only a smile and a word of thanksgiving.

How strange it is that those whose physical desires are fulfilled by elaborate gifts and excessive pleasure are not as happy as those who reserve time and gifts to serve the poorest and most forgotten. As I have said, we do not give to those who can give back but we give to others who cannot return gifts to us. Those who do joyful service in the name of Christ on the cross are the happiest and most satisfied on Christmas Day. Yes, there is some joy in giving to our own family members and friends but the satisfaction of the heart and of the soul is fullest when we love, and give, and are present for the stranger and the poorest at Christmastime.

As we grow older and become more mature we discover that bringing happiness to others is the most important in making us happy. Giving to the poor — the least and most forgotten and unknown people who weep and mourn on Christmas Day — gives us deeper happiness. It is not the food, clothing, money, and other objects; these cannot bring us and others happiness. In the depths of ourselves we are happiest when we do not think of our own burdens but visit the most rejected and unwanted, and surprise the poor ones with your unexpected presence just as when we are surprised with the sudden presence of the baby child Jesus given to us by the Father at Christmastime .

At Christmastime let us prepare to serve the saddest and most lonely. There you will find yourselves most appreciated, loved, and accepted.

We will be feeding 5,000 during the Christmas season and on Christmas Day. We don’t have enough brothers to do this. Help us to accomplish this with your hands, your feet and your gifts in the Christmas season. Bring along your families and friends. It is the best Christmas gifts you can give to your loved ones and your friends.

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