Among the Christmas tree ornaments, I have one that my dad gave me when I was a teenager. It's a small, hollowed-out pumpkin with a nativity scene inside, featuring Joseph, Mary, a donkey or horse, and of course, Jesus. On top of the pumpkin is a gold star and a small pendant for hanging it on the tree. It's a very simple ornament, but I treasure it because my dad gave it to me, and I think it's beautiful. The photo above shows the ornament on the tree. I confess that years ago, my sister and I used to fight when it came to decorating the Christmas tree because I wanted it to be perfect, or rather, exactly to my liking. We don't fight anymore, although we used to argue about the nativity scene of the Christ Child as well. It wasn't until I understood that Jesus doesn't ask for a spectacular tree or nativity scene, until I grasped the humility of his birth, in a manger, among farm animals, he being the Son of God. And this morning at Mass, while I was looking at the Holy Family in front of the altar, I noticed they had placed a gift there. Being human, the first thought that came to mind was, "What if it's for me?" It was a white gift with a large silver bow. Curious, I imagined what it might contain and even felt like opening it. The gift was placed right in front of the Christ Child, the baby Jesus. And suddenly, I felt like I had fallen in love—yes, I am in love! What God inspired in me at that moment was that this gift was Jesus himself, who had been born to save me, as a non-religious song says, "the greatest gift." Yes, Jesus is the best gift of Christmas; he is born for you, for me, for everyone, and he is God! Then I felt a great sadness, and I cried, because we celebrate his birth, but where is his gift? And He, being God the Son, through whom the universe was created, as I read in the second reading, what could He possibly lack? He who is surrounded by glory and majesty in heaven and who reigns for eternity. My tears welled up in my eyes again. "What can I give you?" I wondered. And God inspired me once more. At that moment, I decided to give Him my heart, which is the most precious thing I have and which I believe is what He truly desires from us: a heart that He can mold and that loves Him. I don't know if I was already in love with Jesus, but today, with tears in my eyes, I fell in love with Him all over again. I hope my gift pleases Him. I hope many hearts will let Him into them and that He can make His home there, as He did more than two thousand years ago in that manger in Bethlehem.
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