Myrrh Christmas

Welcoming the unpleasant gifts

Matthew 2:1-2, 10-12

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.

          So, did everyone enjoy their Christmas presents? I know one priest in the Philippines who was so excited about his Christmas present that he took it to Christmas Eve Mass. It was a hover-board, and he rode it during Mass while singing a Christmas song. Did you see that video on Youtube? Do you know what happened next? He got suspended by his bishop for being irreverent at Mass. Don’t you dare tell the bishop about my Yoda voice at Mass – Fr. John might be taking a little unplanned vacation. On the other hand… Last week, I read a small book called “The Ultimate Gift” about another unusual present. A very rich man, named Red Stevens, dies and leaves his wealth to his greedy and selfish relatives. But to one nephew, Jason Stevens, he leaves “the ultimate gift.” That gift consists of teaching Jason over the course of 12 months that the best gift is not money, but rather the gift of love and the gift of laughter, the gifts of friendship and gratitude, and even the gift of problems, and the gift of work. These gifts bring true meaning to life and make life rewarding. At one point Jason disgustedly cries, “Why couldn’t he just leave me money like everybody else??” A friend replies, “He loved you too much to do that.” You see, gifts given with love are not always the ones we would wish for, but they are always the best gifts for us, the ones we need the most.

          Today we celebrate the feast of Epiphany, and three magi or wise men come bearing gifts for Jesus, the new-born King. We’re all familiar with the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. But do you know what they mean or symbolize? Obviously, gold means Jesus is a king, the frankincense means he’s a priest (like priests use incense at Mass), but the myrrh means Jesus will be sacrificed, a saving victim for his people. Myrrh is an ointment used to embalm people after their die. I’m sure the Baby Jesus looked at the third magi who brought the myrrh and felt like saying, “Why couldn’t he leave me money like everybody else??” But the wise man “loved Jesus too much to do that.” Indeed, of all the gifts he received that first Christmas, the myrrh was the most valuable because it prepared Jesus for his ultimate destiny: death on the cross, just like Red Steven’s gift for his nephews was worth more than millions of dollars. Sometimes the most unwelcome gift is the most valuable one.

          Did you know that down in the South, there are many churches known as “answer back” churches. When the preacher says something, the congregation naturally replies. One Sunday, a preacher was speaking on what it would take for the church to become better. He said, “If this church is to become better, it must take up its bed and walk.” The congregation said, “Let it walk, Preacher, let it walk.” Encouraged by their response, he went further, “If this church is going to become better, it will have to throw aside its hindrances and run!” The congregation replied, “Let it run, Preacher, let it run!” Now, really getting into his message, he spoke stronger: “If this church really wants to become great, it will have to take up its wings and fly!” All shouted, “Let it fly, Preacher, let it fly!” The preacher got louder: “If this church is going to fly, it will cost money!” The congregation answered, “Let it walk, Preacher, let it walk.” That congregation gave the preacher an unwelcome gift. But don’t you give that gift to me.

          Now, let me pose my original question to you again: “Did everyone enjoy their Christmas gifts?” Let me ask it ask it another way: did you get a gift that you did NOT enjoy because it was unexpected or unwelcome? And I don’t mean just at Christmas, but throughout the year, whenever someone gives us something that we don’t particularly like. My friends, I would suggest to you that those unexpected, unusual and even unpleasant gifts, like Red Stevens’ gifts of “work” and “problems,” are in fact the best gifts of all. I was counseling a father recently, who was struggling with shouldering the responsibility of raising his children. I suggested to him, “Maybe the times you said ‘no’ to your children – which probably made them unhappy – were the times that helped them the most, even more than the times you gave them what they wanted.” The unwelcome gift was the best one. In a documentary on Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple, he apparently did not allow his children to have their Iphones or mobile devices at the dinner table, but rather he insisted on family conversation: that they look at each other and talk to each other. Steve Jobs was like the wise man, who he gave his children the gift of a little myrrh – Myrrh Christmas! – helping them to die to their desires. Have you heard of Ethan Couch, the teenager who killed four people while driving drunk? He convinced the judge not to convict him because he suffered from “affluenza,” meaning he suffered from too much privilege stemming from his family’s wealth. Of course you don’t have to be a teenager to contract “affluenza,” to be selfish, spoiled and slovenly. I mean, who gives the gift of “myrrh” at a baby shower?? That would be someone wise, someone who wants to inoculate that baby against “affluenza.”

          As we begin the year 2016, we ask God to bless the coming year. And I’m sure he has lots of blessings in store for us this year. Those blessings will come in all shapes and sizes and colors. But don’t be surprised if some gifts aren’t exactly what you would have expected or wished for; but they will be exactly what you needed. Maybe the best gift that Filipino priest got for Christmas this year was not the hover-board, but rather the suspension. Myrrh Christmas!

          Praised be Jesus Christ!