the magi: bring their treasure

Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride. Ecclesiastes 7:8 NLT We began our Advent journey with the Magi, and we end with them. Their destination was to worship, so after seeing the star reappear, they follow. The house they entered certainly was not a King’s palace; the people before them were not powerful and influential. They saw a young girl, a small child. The carpenter was not there. He was probably at work. The home was modest with little room for them to stay over.  Yet, as they did at the beginning of their journey, they put all their experiences with Kings and leaders; beauty and riches, behind them. They came to see. They came to worship. The scripture tells us they were ‘overjoyed’ at seeing the star, and that they ‘bowed down and worshipped him.’ This moment was the highlight of their lives, and they respond with generous gifts. What is the meaning of their gifts? Practically, gold is precious and of great worth in all societies. Frankincense, researchers at Cardiff University in Wales tell us, has a powerful medicinal effect: it calms the pain from arthritis. Myrrh is a perfume used for anointing. Symbolically, gold can be seen as representative of kingship, frankincense is a tool that healing priests would use and myrrh is a symbol of mortality as it was used for embalming. But the real gift of the Magi, no matter how many of them, no matter what they brought, was their worship. They gave time and energy; vision and wisdom. They gave of themselves. In first seeing the star, they took stock of all their gifts and gifting, pooled their best resources and came and gave freely to a child in worship. They bowed down in ‘overjoy.’ They saw Jesus. Today on Boxing Day, after the busyness of the season, ask yourself: Where am I today? At the end of this season, what star will I follow? Can I see it? Am I even looking for it? Can I give as the Magi, from my first and best gifts, for the long term? Is my destination mapped out from the start?