Gifts at Christmas

In the busy Christmas season, we often find ourselves rushing around shopping, making sure we check off everything on our gift list. In this craziness we can easily lose track of the real meaning of the season.

According to tradition, the practice of giving gifts at Christmas is to be symbolic of the gifts given to Jesus by the magi (or more commonly called the Three Wise Men) at His birth. Certainly, giving represents a showing of love towards one another, but I suggest that a better representation of this symbolic gesture would be to give gifts to Jesus to celebrate His birthday.

If you’re wondering how to get gifts to Him, it is easier than you might think. The gospel of Matthew reports a teaching, called the parable of the “The Sheep and the Goats,” where Jesus said:

‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’[1]

Especially this year, with so many in need, I ask you to contemplate that passage and give accordingly. And notice that ‘give’ does not have to be something expensive, as it could be something as simple as a visit (well, maybe a call or video chat this year).

[1] Matthew 25:35-40 (NIV).