“THE GIFT OF A LIFETIME”

It is customary that when a child is born, friends and well-wishers of the parents would present gifts for the child.

The growing trend is to have a baby shower before the birth.  With advances of medical technology, it is now possible to know gender of an unborn child so, persons can present the appropriate gifts at the shower. 

Jesus was no different in the sense that he too received gifts, not at a baby shower, but after his birth.

In our gospel reading, Matthew tells of visit of the three wise men, who were led by a star to the place where Jesus was.   They took with them, gifts for the child.

King Herod heard of the birth and of these men who were looking for the child Jesus.  He sent for them, telling them that he too would want to worship this child.   He said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, (leave no stone unturned) and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”

Herod had no intention of worshipping Jesus.  Rather he intended to get rid of the Jesus because he saw the him as a threat to his rule and authority.

The Account tells that the three men were warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod.  So, they took another route back to their homes.

There are aspects of this story that we want to look at.

In verse 2 they asked, “where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?  We have seen his star in the east and have come to worship him”

Then in verse 11 we read that  “when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.”

These men had undertaken a journey in an act of faith, following a star to wherever it would lead them.  They knew that He was born to be King of the Jews.

What was the significance of these gifts?

Gold was symbolic of divinity.  The gift of gold to the Christ child spoke to His divinity—God made manifest in the flesh.

Frankincense was used in worshipping a holy and righteous God.  Presenting it to the child was not only recognizing that he was holy and righteous, it also pointed to the future and what would be his willing sacrifice of himself by dying on the cross becoming the perfect sacrificial lamb for sins of all mankind.

Myrrh was a spice and that was used in embalming.  It is bitter to the taste and symbolized bitterness, suffering, and affliction as would later befall Jesus.

Those gifts were what made their journey even more meaningful.

We are on a journey that can become very complicated and onerous if we are not following the guiding star.   What is more is that without the guiding star we will lose our way.  On this journey, whether we know it or not, there is always some yearning for some greater experience, greater satisfaction or a yearning for someone to whom we can turn or look up to.  All too often many seek to satisfy those desires, the yearnings in ways that are harmful to our relationship with God.  We can think of those who find themselves following what we like to call bad company and getting into problem after problem. It happens because they are searching for role models but doing so in the wrong places and following the models.

That is why we need to be guided by the Holy Spirit.  Like the star the wise men followed, our star, the Holy Spirit leads us to establish a right relationship with God in Jesus Christ.

Remember when Jesus was speaking to his disciples about leaving them in this world said to them “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come” (John 16:13)

Being guided by the Holy Spirit leads to an epiphany experience, in which God reveals himself in a special way as the Godman, Jesus Christ, the second Person of the Trinity.

The journey of life offers many opportunities. I speak especially of opportunities to build and our understanding of who God is and our relationship with him.  Sometimes they are missed.   At other times they are deliberately ignored because of the desire to live according to the ways of the world, the desire, to have a so-called good time, enjoying life according to the standards set by the world.

There is a need to follow the “guiding star” the Holy Spirit as people of faith.  Be assured that, as we believe, in every situation or experience, whether good or bad, God has a word, a message for us and for our salvation.   If He were not the God he is, gracious, and merciful, where would we be today.  It is He who has brought us to this point in life.

As God reveals himself more and more to us in our daily living our response must be to worship and adore him.   We may not have the gifts of gold frankincense and myrrh to offer, but we do have a lifetime to offer in the worship and service of God in Jesus Christ.  This means giving our lives to Jesus who is God with us.  Giving our lives not just for a moment in time but going forward in the future.  That is what he desires above any other form of worship as we seek to live according to his will for us guided by the holy Spirit.

This is what Psalm 19 says in part:

The law of the Lord is perfect, [e]converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;  8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the [f]honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward.

Giving one’s life to God is a personal decision to be made.  No one can make it for anyone else. 

I pray that each for each of us to allow the Holy Spirit to be our constant guide leading us to a deeper knowledge and understanding of the will of God for us for the rest of our lives and in gratitude surrender our lives to him through Jesus Christ, our Saviour.

- Amen