Let Us Bring Our Gifts

In a couple of minutes our young people are going to act out the Epiphany story, as if it were happening today.

But celebrating the birth of Jesus is an incredible opportunity for us all.     We may see ourselves as the shepherds, the wise men, anyone who 2000 yrs ago looked up into the sky and saw the star shining the East, and to think again on what it means to be Christian.

The star both announces and guides the wise men as they travel to be witnesses to the birth of Jesus.    The light which is today guiding us is the light of Christ shining in the dark, a light brighter than any star in the sky. 

The Magi, not Jewish leaders as might have been expected, but gentiles, showing that Christ came for everyone,  give him gifts that represent the best of what they can offer, and  yet these gifts are nothing in comparison to the great gift Jesus is for us for the world. 

The Magi’s gifts as well as being the finest of gifts are also symbolic.    Gold symbolising royalty, Christ the King, frankincense, symbolising Christ’s priestly office, The divine Christ,  and myrrh an ingredient in oil used for anointing but also prophesising Christ’s persecution and crucifixion.   

But  that doesn’t mean that only very special gifts can be offered to Jesus.   God has given us all gifts to use for his glory, to lay at Jesus’ feet, and as the Magi didn’t let Herod stop them following the star we mustn’t let problems hinder us on our journey

At Toddler Praise last Wednesday we walked round the church to the crib, pretending we were shepherds on their long walk, following the star at the top of the west window, until we reach the crib and could look at the baby Jesus, we then came back to where the Wise Men were, still searching for the baby, still following the star, still on their journey.

So where are we on our journey?    Are we steadfastly following the light, not allowing other people, events, whatever, to distract us.      For just as the shepherds and the Wise Men did two thousand years ago; we today must follow the light until each one of us truly becomes his disciple.    The question for each of us is,  how long is the path ahead and can we stay on the path, not allowing the pressure of the modern world take us from it, dedicating ourselves anew to following in Christ’s footsteps.      Amen.

Let us now see the story as if it were happening today.