From the Pastor - The Gifts of the Magi

The magi have come from the remaining three corners of the world to adore the newborn king! And how surprised they were to find him in such simple surroundings. Here is the Christ, the Promised One who was spoken about throughout all the prophecies, sleeping in a feeding trough. But these educated and powerful men bow their heads and their knees to offer, not just the gifts that they carried, but the worship that is born in their hearts.

It is truly difficult sometimes to see the glory of God in this world of ours. Inundated by devastating news of earthquakes and tidal waves, violence in city streets and within the walls of homes, children abused and people treated like objects remind us of both how fragile life is, and how vulnerable we all are. Some may think that they have power in life, and others may seize it from those weaker than they, but in the end we are all alike. There is truly only one who has the right to claim supremacy over others, and that is God himself. We may try desperately to gain access in this life to position and prestige, but there is only one place that we will find our real value, and that is in God. Most of us will lament the evil in our lives, but through only one can evil truly be vanquished, and that is through God.

Like the magi who saw the strangest sight the day they came to the stable and recognized what was truly before them, we too must continually look for ways to see beyond what is in front of us. We have to learn to bow in humility, and recognize that in God's presence, we are of value only because of his love for us. No accomplishment or title, possession or promotion will ever impress our God in the same way as our heartfelt worship of his awesomeness and power. And while this truth will not sit well with too many of us who have spent our lives trying to please and impress others, it will finally set us free.

I believe that every time I forego an opportunity to receive God's grace, through Eucharist, confession and reconciliation, prayer or acts of kindness, I basically say to God that I am not in need of him. I say through my own apathy or laziness that other things in my life are more important than him. When sleep takes precedence over spending time with the Lord at Mass or in prayer only because I am out with friends the night before, or the need for my own space denies others the company of Christ through me, my life is proven to be out of balance. Every time I convince myself that I am alright with God and with every other person in my life, conveniently glossing over the hurts and distances that I have put in my own way, I call God a liar and negate the very gift of his Son. I virtually become a man who stands at the side of the manger, educated and blessed, but so blind to what is right in front of me because I will not even lower my eyes to see what is truly there. “I deserve this”, “I haven't done anything really wrong”, “It is not my fault” replaces what I should be saying, “Only through you, Lord”, “Only with your help”, “My Lord and my God!”

I pray in this new year that the myriad of gifts that I have been given in my life will serve me and those around me well, but no longer get in the way of the one gift I truly want to receive. I pray that I will learn humility like I have never learned it before and bend my knees each day of the year to receive God's grace in Christ. My prayer is that the opportunities will be abundant this year for me to become like the magi who come to the stable and see the face of God, and seeing it, be changed forever.