“What can I give him, poor as I am,” asks Christina Rossetti in the poem we sing as “In the bleak midwinter." If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb. If I were a wise man, I would do my part…
Those wise men, astrologers, magi from the East (the direction of the dawning sun, growing enlightenment…) were obviously men of means. They were educated and had the resources to mount a lengthy journey. They had the faith to commit those resources, trusting in their interpretation of a star in the heavens. And they had the wealth to bring rich gifts, suitable for a king: “On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
It seemed not to have fazed them in the slightest that this king they sought was a mere child in his mother’s arms. They didn't think, “Well, what are these people going to do with gold, frankincense and myrrh? Such gifts belong in palaces. We’ll just give him a gift certificate…”
No, they gave what they came to give, gifts of great value, gifts that cost them something. They sought nothing in return, overjoyed simply that the star they had trusted had led them to their destination, grateful to have the chance to offer worship to this child, whoever he might turn out to be. These men excelled at the art of oblation, offering.
How are we when it comes to living a life of offering? A life of oblation is a little different than just being a good giver. A life of offering is one in which we are oriented to joy, to what might bless people around us. It means more than giving what people need – that’s a basic human imperative. These magi didn’t bring gifts that Jesus and Mary needed (as the old joke goes, if the wise men had been women, they’d have brought diapers, teething rings and a casserole…). They brought gifts that honored and blessed the household, gifts that conveyed value and esteem.
To live a life of offering means being more oriented toward others than to ourselves - and not being so concerned with what we are receiving back. Self-care is important, but it doesn’t always come first. A life of offering involves giving of ourselves, even when it is inconvenient and costly.
And even more than being oriented toward others, a life of offering means being oriented toward God, being guided by the Holy Spirit to where we are to bring our offerings, where we will find blessing as we bless others.
And why would we choose to live like this? Because we receive so much joy from seeing the blessing God brings through us. That’s what I notice most in this week’s passage:
“When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.”
That hymn ends, “…yet what I can I give him, give my heart.” As we give our heart to Jesus, to God, we find ourselves awash in blessing, overwhelmed with joy.
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