Jesus Caritas

You, God, are a God of giving and receiving

eternally giving, eternally receiving,

it is your essence

At Christmas, we humans open our arms to receive you,

a little newborn given,

soft flesh and bones for our hardened world,

tiny warm body for our cold hearts.

What can I in turn give you ?

my arms to hold you gently

my legs to carry you softly

my ears to hear you warmly

my eyes to see you tenderly

my mind to think with you wildly

my heart to love you madly

in each person and being I meet!

Like you, I give my body

for it is in flesh and blood that we meet

giving and receiving embrace there

and you become my essence eternally.