Week of January 7, 2002
Michael S.

"And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord.'"
     St. Luke, 2:10-11

"And when they had 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, frankincense and myrrh."
     St. Matthew, 11

I was raised in another tradition that celebrated the fantastic gift that God gave us in his son, Jesus the Christ. I am always mindful of the elegance of the simple gift in the birth of a child. It is the visible promise of the grace of Christ the Savior that we celebrate at Christmas time. That is what Christmas meant to me as a child. The gifting of the wise men on Twelfth Night for me was that offering of grace extended to all peoples and nations promised to Abraham and all his descendants. The two holidays represent to me the two parts of giving: the blessedness in receiving grace and then the blessedness of sharing that grace in giving to others.

"O Lord our God, maker of all things. Through Your goodness You have blessed us with these gifts. With them we offer ourselves to Your service and dedicate our lives to the care and redemption of all that You have made, for the sake of Him who gave Himself for us, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen"

Contributed by Michael S.
Published Monday January 7, 2002
Week 6 of Liturgical Year A