“The giver of every good and perfect gift has called upon us to mimic God’s giving, by grace, through faith, and this is not of ourselves.” — St. Nicholas of Myra
It is that time of year again, the season of Advent, a time of waiting and preparation for Christmas Day. Traditionally, this is also a season of giving and receiving gifts. Perhaps it is a fitting moment to reflect on the deeper meaning of gift-giving at Christmas and to ask how this beautiful tradition began.
One could argue that the very first Christmas gifts were offered to the infant Jesus by the Magi, the three Wise Men from the East. In the Gospel of Matthew (2:1–13), we read of their intense desire to encounter the newborn King. Their quest led them even to consult King Herod for directions. Guided by a star that appeared and disappeared along the way, they finally arrived at a humble manger in Bethlehem, where they found the Child Jesus with Mary, His mother. Falling to their knees in worship, they presented Him with gifts of great symbolic value: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their own country by another route.
Their remarkable journey is etched in our hearts and memory through the beloved Christmas carol “We Three Kings.”
What, then, can we learn from the lives of these Wise Men? Though they were learned scholars, they carried within them a deep and burning desire to behold the Savior with their own eyes. Driven by faith and guided by divine providence, they undertook a long and arduous journey, bringing with them the very best they could offer. The star that led them to Christ continues to shine symbolically each Christmas, when we place a star outside our homes, guiding us once again to the manger, and inviting the Christ Child into our homes and hearts.
The worship offered by the Magi, and the precious gifts they laid before the Child, remind us that whatever we do for the Lord, we are called to give our very best. Only our best efforts will do. Even the gift of the present moment is something we can offer to Him. And in giving our best to the Lord, we discover that we are enriched far beyond our expectations. Like the Magi, we too will be filled with great joy.
One of the most inspiring examples of offering one’s very best to God is found in the life of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
On Christmas night in 1538, St. Ignatius celebrated his first Mass in the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, within the Chapel of the Nativity. At that time, the chapel housed five highly venerated pieces of wood believed to be from the manger of the Lord. St. Ignatius was deeply moved by the significance of this place and chose to wait 18 months after his ordination to celebrate his first Mass there. He desired to offer his very best to God from the very beginning of his priestly life. It is said that he was moved to tears during that Mass, and at every Mass thereafter, so deeply was he filled with the love of the Lord.
This Christmas, let us also give our very best to others in whatever way we can, through our time, attention, care, and generosity, both material and spiritual. For, as Scripture reminds us, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
