Eureka!

“And going into the house the wise men saw the Child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worsHiPeD HIM. Then, opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts: gold & frankincense & myrrh.” (Matthew 2:11)

Henry Siddons Mowbray
The Gift of the Magi, 1915

How can we, the regular, everyday, sinful children of God, ever mirror those lofty gifts the wise men gave to our LORD? Jesus, the Son of God, needs for nothing, much less something we could manage to give Him. Some say that we need to give Him our hearts, but our hearts are only made pure enough for Him through His own gift first. Some say we ought to give Him money and look for a reward in return, but that can’t possibly be right. What use has the Son of God for money? Some say we should give Him our love, but how? And why would He want it? Mine is imperfect as can be. Cripes, I'm sick. I can't even work. What can I possibly have to give??

And so, we look around ourselves this Epiphany season, wondering how much gold it might take to make a worthy gift for the Son of God, and as we look around, another epiphany is made clear to us through the work of the Holy Spirit:

While the Son of God needs nothing, His brothers and sisters here on earth need everything: from jobs to coats to security to transportation to medicine to warm baths to a place to live in comfort and a place to die in peace. From friendship to food to laughter to hugs to forgiveness and mercy. All of these things are as scarce as they are overly abundant. Our natural(ly sinful) inclination is that we must give the Son of God expensive gifts we think are worthy of kings and gods, like gold and frankincense, but what we ought to give Him are gifts that mirror His own gift to us: Sacrifice. Love. Compassion. Forgiveness. Mercy. Generosity. Patience. Knowledge of His Gift of the Gospel.

"There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." (1 Cor. 12:4-7) 

No matter which gift is yours to give, no matter how frustrated you might be with it from a worldly point of view, always remember that each and every day is an opportunity to pay a visit to the Christ Child bearing a gift worthy of such a King because He has made you pure enough to do good for others.

The first three wise men brought Him the best of what they had, the best of what God had already given them. Take what God has given you and give the best back to Him by loving those He loved enough to die for. Because "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me," (Matthew 25:40).

Suggested verse to repeat if it's a difficult day is derived from 1 Corinthians 12:7

PRC buddies, remember to breathe!

"To each is given the Spirit -------> 5 count inhale

for the common good." -------> 5 count exhale

For more in the Three Wise Men, read "We Three Kings of Orient."