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The Gift

Jim Wade, Council Growth Director

With Christmas just behind us, and with the spirit of gift giving still fresh in our hearts, maybe we should reflect on the real gift of Christmas…….. That God gave us his Own Son!!!!!!! Yes, He gave to the world and for all generations to come, a gift so precious and so wonderful. But this gift started out as just a tiny infant and then grew. Most meaningful gifts start out as a tiny speck, an idea or an inspiration.

Just think of the Gift that we inherited from our founder Father Michael J. McGivney, how it grew from an idea in the basement of a Catholic Church, to a worldwide organization. Yes we were given this gift, but what have we done with it? Have we hoarded it? Or have we shared it? Stop and think for a moment how this gift has impacted your personal life. If we truly live by the principles of our Order, this gift has certainly has made us better Catholic men.
Now take a moment to reflect on the things your Council has done throughout this year and since it was started. Tiny sparks of inspiration or ideas blossomed into projects or gifts to our parishes, our youth, our families and our communities. Many of these gifts were started by brothers who served before us.  Then we cared for, nurtured and built on the foundation that they provided. We can be justly proud of the accomplishments of our Council and the gifts it has provided.
After assessing the value of the gift we were given, and the gifts that our Council has provided, why are we so very reluctant to share that gift with other Catholic men in our parish? Why would we want to exclude entire Catholic congregations from enjoying the gift? And yet we do just that. 
In a vast number of our Parishes in Texas we have whole congregations who remain apart from us simply because we do not share the same language. Yet they share with us a deep commitment to the One, True, Holy, Catholic Faith. We can share our gift with these congregations simply by making them a Round Table of our Council.
We might also look to a neighboring parish which does not enjoy the gift of a Knights of Columbus Council. Have we thought of sharing our gift here? Are we concerned that we might lose some of our members to a new council? My brothers as leaders in this great order we must share our gift both on an individual basis, by inviting each and every Catholic man you come in contact with to join us, and on the larger level by inviting entire Catholic Communities to share in this great gift we were given.
Just consider what a world we would be living in: If God did not give us the gift of His Son? If the 12 Apostles did not share the Gift of Faith and the Eucharist? If Father McGivney did not share his vision? If that first Council did not expand and reach out to other Catholic Communities? If someone did not invite you to join the Knights of Columbus? We must share our gifts. Make it your personal commitment for 2011 to share the gift that you were given, so it WILL keep on GIVING!!!!!


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