A reflection for Advent 1
During this advent season I’m offering a mini series entitled “Gifts for God” reflecting on the gifts the magi brought to Jesus. Gold, Frankincense and myrrh.
On the 4th Sunday of Advent, we will be pondering on the mystery of Mother Mary, not just because it is very close to Christmass, not just because the whole shebang could not have happened without her, but because she also gave a gift to God. Our Lady gave her very self. Her whole being, Body and soul to God.
But for today, the first gift that the Magi come and give is the gift of gold. Gold symbolises that this precious bundle of humanity and divinity all wrapped in one and all wrapped up in a blanket, is nothing less than a king. But more than that he is King of all kings as Handel majestically crafted in his stunning work The Messiah. So by offering gold to Jesus the magi might be saying something like this.“From one King to another, I recognise and honour your kingship. Further I perceive that you are a far greater king than I will ever be, even though you are so very young and have not made any policy speeches or announced any programs, or spoken a word.
You are king not just because of what you have not done, not just because of what you will do. You are THE king simply because of who you are. I place at your feet this gold as an outward gesture of my understanding that you are God. I am honoured and awed to be able to do this.” Now there are lots of really nifty things about being a king. You have hot and cold running errand people to carry out your every whim. You never have to worry about where your next meal is coming from and you get to make a lot decisions which will affect people's lives, hopefully in a very positive and life changing way. Kings also have really cool expensive stuff.
They have the best and the best that could be offered was the gift of gold.Gold is a soft metal, but it is also long lasting and expensive. The magi understood its significance and those who dabble precariously, perhaps foolishly in the Stock Market in the 21st century also understand this. They flock to gold in perilous COVID times because they know it is a very safe commodity. Many of us know of someone or are privileged to wear a gold wedding band. It’s gold because our marriage is special and sacred and precious.At a wedding service the golden rings are given and received between husband and wife. There is a symbolism here too, just as there was with the magi and Our Lord.First, the golden wedding band is a symbol of the fidelity between the happy couple.
You know how it goes ‘forsaking all others’. So just as the husband and wife pledge themselves to each other, so too the Magi was not just saying that Jesus was any ordinary young King, but the magi was saying that “You are my king and there will be no one else as significant in my life as you. You are at the pinnacle of all my priorities, but even deeper and more mysterious than that, just as the bride and groom become one flesh and bound together in an indescribable but profound way, so too the magi as he lays is gift at the feet of the Christ child, is saying by this outward action, that you Lord Jesus and I are one. It really is what Christmass is all about; God and man becoming one flesh.Second thing about the symbolism of Gold. Gold lasts for a really long time.
The wedding ring goes round and round in an endless circle with no beginning or ending, so the vocation of the couple is that their love for each other will also go on and on. It might change, it might develop, it might mysteriously mature and evolve into something that it was not at the beginning. I would like to think that the Magi’s desire for an unending relationship with the Lord was his deepest yearning.
Finally, what pervades all of this, is a most marvellous sense of joy. The couples joy for each other. The marvellous joy for the Christ-child, the Lord’s joy for all those who make pilgrimage to Him. You don’t give gold to someone who you are hostile towards. You give gold to someone who makes you happy. Something to think about the next time you see a golden ring on someone's hand, or maybe even your own.
A little prayer for the season.
Heavenly Father, the Magi came on bended knee to adore your Son and offer their gifts.
Implant deep within us that same sense of mystery and awe for all your generous gifts to us.
So fill our hearts with your love, that we may come one day and see what they saw,
the face of your beloved son, even Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen