Are you good at the art of tipping? Do you know the correct amount to tip, depending upon the situation? Do you remember to tip the baby sitter at Christmas? And the mail carrier, all the other people that help you during the year? What about when you visit that fancy French restaurant? You order the expensive Foie Gras and all you get is a tiny plate of chopped liver.

How about the Lord? Have you ever felt that the Lord did something special, just for you? Maybe you are on a hospital gurney, waiting to be wheeled into the operating room and the nurses are seaching for that missing scapel. Is this when you say, "Lord, do you have a minute? Let's talk." Have you ever thought, "Lord that was a great sky last night, sensational. How do you do that incredible thing with the moon? Brilliant! There's going be a something extra in the plate this Sunday."

How do you express thankfulness for those special moments, those special feelings? We are not talking about the Stewardship Drive, or the Second Mile fundraiser, or Money for the World. We are talking about something special, something that says, "here am I." O' Lord, Thou are so great and I am so small. What could I possibly give back to Thee?

Perhaps one way is to spread Joy. Let the Lord's joy radiate from you. Work with joy; speak with joy; sing with joy. Wrap yourself in the armor of the Lord and bring the Lord's joy to the world. When the Lord lifts you up with his joy and love, who needs solar energy? You will light up all who are around you with the word, the joy, and the love of the Lord.

What can I give, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would give a lamb;
if I were a wise man, I would do my part.
Yet what can I give him? Give my heart.

Contributed by Rosemary
Sunday February 18, 2007
Liturgical Year C Week 12