"... they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him... they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh..."
The only way we can respond to the Gift of God in Jesus Christ is through the giving of gifts - our treasure, our adoration, our lives.
Like fragile clay pots, infused with such water pressure that we literally burst and diffuse the liquid in every conceivable direction, we would be hard-pressed not to return some sort of response, some impulsive reaction; a heartfelt compulsive act which longs to reflect - howbeit so meager - a thankful heart for the glorious Gift of the Christ Child, given us here, in the House of God.
The magi offered the Boy the best they had - indeed, treasures of His own Creation. Jesus came into the world surrounded by expensive gifts of gratitude and left the world, having been anointed with an alabaster jar of ointment. Jesus was enthroned - and continues to be enthroned - between the bookends of worship, sacrifice, and adoration.
And later, when the Holy Family would flee Bethlehem to safeguard the Child's life from Herod, these same gifts would provide as sustenance for their journey and nurture in their continued wanderings in Egypt. Thus, the Giver of gifts returns our gifts of worship, sacrifice, and adoration in order to provide for, and bring forth, the Will of that same Giver.
No comments:
Post a Comment