by Frank Castaneda
I was a child once, and at that time Christmas was a time of kissing too many grandmas and grandpas, and uncles and aunties. I was giving courtesies, I knew. But I also knew that after the many “mano po” – comes the time of receiving. All kinds of toys, clothes, usable things, useless things – plus money! One peso was regular, but two were tops! Those were the good old days, no worry, no hurry. Today, I am retired. But there is not enough to go around. And so I am too busy trying to scrounge around, do a little something here and there. No time for play, no more time for love, because love has flown away. Strange, isn’t it? That when I was working, I was planning for retiring. Now that I am retired, I am preparing to be self-employed. This just strengthens my suspicions that man is not content wherever he is, because he thinks grass is greener on the other side of the fence. Look at me: I am old, but I am happy. Look at me: I am no longer lost, like a kitten up in a tree. I am still like a child, preferring to receive: but this time, to receive the greatest gift of all – the gift of Love by Jesus Christ, because no greater love is there than that a man who gives up his life for a friend.
Matthew 1:1- 2,8 -12 gives an account of the first Christmas: “1Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2Saying, ‘Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.’ 8And he (Herod) sent them to Bethlehem, and said,” Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.’ 9When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 12And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.”
This time my view is different. I see that God in His love for us sends invitations for us all to come and see Him. He uses everything and everybody, even unsaved persons, to do His will. No matter how faraway we are, whether two years journey away from Him, whether we are Masters or servants, He will reach out to us. And when He calls us, we have no choice but to come to Him. Job said: “18 Behold, happy is the man whom god correcteth, therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty. 18For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.” No matter how wealthy or happy we are in this material world, when we get into deep trouble, we call upon God to deliver us out of the problem. If we do not heed His voice, He will “draw” us to Him. In Greek, the world used means to “drag you away against your will, kicking and screaming.”
And when we finally see Jesus, we worship Him with our gifts and offerings, just as the Magi did with the gift of Gold, which says You are King; Frankincense, which illustrates His role as Priest, who carries our prayers to heaven; and Myrrh, the most mysterious gift. Myrrh which is used for embalming, signifies Death, and by His Death He was our Saviour. Myrrh was actually used in the burial of Jesus. And when we come to know Jesus, there is no turning back to the old ways from whence we came, before we got to know Jesus. When we are called by God, and we accept Jesus as our Saviour, we keep our focus on Him, we put all our trust, hope and faith in Him, because He is the Faithful One.
I emailed a friend once: “Yes!!! When the 3 Magi came to see Jesus the Child, they went back to their respective countries by a different way, according to what the Angel told them. And they obeyed the Angel.” And she responded: “Just like when we found Jesus we leave everything behind no looking back. Set your minds on the things above not on earthly things.”
In Matthew 13:45-46 we read: “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” Once Jesus has found us, and we have accepted Him as our Saviour, will never ever leave Him. And if we slip, He is there to help us get up again. Jesus is Himself truly the greatest Christmas gift of all for me and for all of us. Praised be the Name of the LORD.
