What shall I bring?

What shall I bring?

That’s the first question we ask when we get invited to someone’s house, isn’t it? It really isn’t the done thing to turn up at someone’s door empty-handed. Unless specifically instructed to bring a contribution to the meal (I took a vegetarian chilli last time I was invited out), we offer flowers or chocolates or a bottle of wine to the host/hostess. If we’re invited along to someone’s birthday party, we take a small birthday gift – maybe a book or some bubble bath (or chocolates, flowers or wine!).

When we go to visit a new baby for the first time, we take something for the baby. We know all about that at the moment! Our new granddaughter has been inundated with lovely outfits, blankets, books and toys. She’s a very lucky little girl. Everyone loves buying gifts for a new baby.

And so when the Magi go to visit the new baby, the new king of the Jews, of course they take gifts with them.

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  Matthew 2:11

Their first response is to bow down and worship. To show that they understand who this baby really is. To demonstrate their respect and awe. They take the time to stop and gaze in wonder at this miracle, God in human form, the greatest gift ever.

We’re not very good at that, are we? Taking the time to really reflect and consider the deep significance of the Christmas story. As we rush from one Nativity play to the next, do we ever really try to get our heads around ‘Emmanuel – God with us’? As we listen to the nine lessons and carols without really listening (working out what’s left on our shopping list in our head instead maybe), do we ever stop to gaze in wonder and adoration on this tiny baby, the Saviour of the world? Is it exhaustion and stress that brings us to our knees or a natural response to this greatest gift of all?

I really hope and pray that we all will get a fresh glimpse of this wonder this Christmas time and bow down in humble adoration.

The gifts the Magi brought to Jesus seem a bit weird and yet all have deep significance. Each gift represented a depth of understanding about who Jesus was and what he was to face in this life: gold for a king, myrrh for anointing and frankincense as incense. According to Bible scholars, these were standard gifts to offer a king or deity in the ancient world. Each shows how the Magi have grasped exactly who Jesus is.

And so what about us? As we approach Jesus this Christmas time, what should we bring? What can we give to the one who has it all, the king of the whole universe? What gift could we offer that would ever possibly be enough?

We give a lot of gifts at Christmas. Is Jesus on our list of people to buy for? Probably not, because what could we ever buy that would be suitable, but let’s take a moment here to think about what we do intend to give Jesus this Christmas. After all, it is his birthday that we are all celebrating here.

Everything we have is already his. All that we are and own has been given to us by the creator of the universe. We can never cling to anything claiming ‘It’s mine!’. All that you have has been lent to you, entrusted to you, handed over to your care for the good of all.

All things come from you and of your own do we give you.

So what does Jesus want from us? We’re not the first to ask this question.

What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
if I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
yet what I can I give him: give my heart. From ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’ by Christina Rosetti

Give my heart.

I think this writer got it right.

That’s all I have to give: my heart, my love, my all.

From where we stand, looking back over Jesus’ life and death, we know that he gave it all for us, he loved us so much he was prepared to die for us.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.  From ‘When I survey the wondrous cross’ by Isaac Watts

My soul, my life, my all.

That’s the best gift that we can give this Christmas.

I’ll leave you to work out over the next couple of days what that looks like in practice for you!