Gift
of Love
“In
the larger context of Christmas and its deep universal theology…gifts are
particularly expressive. The Magi thought to bring valuable gifts to the child
Jesus, and those gifts were symbolic. Most gifts are. Gold to the king of a new
kind of kingdom, frankincense to [a] man who would be an Epicurean in love with
life, and myrrh to the man who would be executed for his generous audacity.”
Thomas
Moore (The Soul of Christmas, p.109; Franciscan Media, 2016)
The
Magi, presumably mystics who pondered the meaning of signs and prophesies, knew
that a child had been born who might change the world. The fact that a star of
unusual brightness burst on the scene at the same time confirmed their insights.
So, they gathered several gifts that would support him and his potential to
bring sanity to chaos. They knew from their meditations that this child would
bring a change in consciousness, a new kind of kingdom, not of this earth but
of spirit. New kingdoms require gold. And they brought frankincense typically
burned in temples around the world, to acknowledge his sacredness. They also knew
that he would not be allowed to preach radical love for long, because his ministry
would turn the world upside down. His rejection of the power structures and his
concern for the poor and marginalized could set the world on fire. And for that
he would be killed. Myrrh is a tree resin, like frankincense, which was mixed with
posca or wine and rubbed on a body before burial. It is what Mary Magdalene meant
to do for Jesus when she found the stone rolled away from an empty tomb.
At the
birth of Jesus, the Magi began their long journey from the east to bring him
gifts and to acknowledge his gift to the world—unconditional love. They chose what
they gave the new king carefully. We could take a lesson from this story beyond
the colorful one of the “three kings of Orient” on camels. We could decide to
be equally thoughtful with our gift giving. In the American way, we tend to believe
that more is better, which is simply wrong. Sometimes more is simply excessive
and ridiculous. One gift, thoughtfully chosen, and given with great love is all
the “more” anyone needs.
I don’t
know about you, but I am weary of the commercialization of our sacred holidays.
Christmas for Christians was meant to be akin to the hajj of Islam. A high holy journey in which the birth of Jesus is the focus. Instead, we rush through Christmas so we can
get to Black Friday shopping early. Have we taken the holy out of Jesus' birth and
handed it over to Amazon?
If you
love your family, and I know you do, take the time required to choose one perfect
gift. Present that gift with all the love you feel for them. And then—maybe—burn
a little incense to indicate the sacredness of your kinship. They will
appreciate your thoughtfulness. Try it this year. One person, one gift, lots of
love.
In
the Spirit,
Jane
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