By Father Alonzo Q. Cox
When I was a newly ordained priest I would make frequent classroom visits to our parish school. I had always enjoyed visiting our school children during the Christmas season. I remember very vividly asking a group of fourth graders the question, “What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word Christmas?”
I asked this question every year, and every year I got the same exact answer – “gifts.” I think the same answer would come from the mouths of adults as well.
Christmas has been associated with the reality of gifts, whether it’s the giving of gifts or the receiving of them. We all know that there is so much more to Christmas than gifts, but in all reality, that is what Christmas has become, in the secular world at least.
Today’s feast though is about gifts! We celebrate today the feast of the Epiphany, when we recall the visit of the three Magi. These three kings make their way to visit the newborn King, Jesus Christ. They don’t come empty handed though. They bring Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. These gifts reflect the nature of who this newborn child is – King of Heaven and Earth. As the Magi pay homage to Jesus, they know whose presence they are in. The gifts they bring to Jesus reflect just that.
The question that we must ask ourselves is: “What gifts do we bring before baby Jesus today?”
What are some of the “things” that Jesus would want us to give Him on this Epiphany Sunday. We could go back and forth on this, but ultimately the answer is very easy. He wants our entire selves! Jesus knows our hearts better than anyone on this earth. Why then are we afraid to give them to Him?
All that Jesus longs for is for us to give ourselves over to Him – totally, unreservedly and without looking back. The greatest gift that we can give to Jesus is our complete and total selves. All of our fears, worries, doubts and concerns can be placed at the crib of the Savior.
The three Magi were led to the Lord by the light of a star. That light led them to the “Light of the World.” We must allow the light of Christ to shine brightly for all the world to see.
Unfortunately, we live in a world that is in immense darkness. Our world needs the light of Christ now more than ever. We, as disciples of Christ are called to bring the gift of this light to all those whom we encounter. As we give the gift of ourselves to Jesus, let us in turn, bring the gift of Jesus to all of God’s people.
Christmas may be closely connected with gifts, but the ultimate gift is the newborn King, Jesus Christ. We must never lose sight of Christ, the greatest gift given to us from the Father. Just as the Magi paid homage to Him, so do we as His witnesses.
Just as we hear in our responsorial psalm at Mass today, we proclaim with great courage and conviction: “Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.”
Readings for the Epiphany of the Lord
Isaiah 60: 1-6
Psalm 72: 1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13
Ephesians 3: 2-3A, 5-6
Matthew 2: 1-12
Father Cox is the pastor of St. Martin de Porres parish, Bedford-Stuyvesant, and diocesan coordinator of ministry to African-American Catholics.