Episode Transcript  

One

What shall we give to Christ?

It’s become commonplace to point out that we run around during advent shopping for Christmas presents for everybody under the sun, and we get no present for the Child whose Birthday literally is Christmas

Obviously, that can’t be right. We can’t spend Advent – which is a time preparing for Christmas – by preparing for everyone other than Christ.

So how do we prepare for Christmas? What gifts do we get for Christ?

Actually, as St. Augustine points out, we can just follow the lead of the first people who gave Jesus presents – namely, the Three Magi

Because the three magi gave gifts that resemble exactly what the Church encourages us to give Jesus this Advent. Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh – Almsgiving, Prayer, and Fasting 

Two

Almsgiving

The first of the gifts of the Magi is gold – and gold obviously represents money

So how do we give money to the baby Jesus? 

Well, Christ identified Himself with two groups: the Church and the Poor

So if you give to the Church and you give to the poor: there you go, you’re giving a gift to Christ.

So, let’s make it easy: we should probably make an assessment of how much money we’re spending on presents, and then make some kind of proportional gift to the poor and the Church.

That’s a way to give gold to the baby Jesus. That’s a way of keeping Christ at the center of Christmas.

Three

Prayer

The second gift is Frankincense, which obviously means prayer, both private and public.

Incense rises to God, sweet and precious, like the prayers of God’s faithful. 

And that, of course, is the best gift we can give the Infant Lord. 

Just as the best thing we can give our family is time spent with them over the holidays, so the best thing we can give the Lord is to spend more time with Him over this liturgical season dedicated to the preparation and celebration of the Lord’s birth. 

Maybe go to mass more during the week, this Advent. 

Pray the Rosary every day 

Pick a Gospel and read through some each day to finish by Christmas

Just sit in silence, read nothing, talk to God from the heart and then just be with him.

That’s how we give Frankincense to the Christ Child. That’s how we keep Christ at the center of Christmas

Four

Fasting

Myrrh is the last of the gifts of the Magi. And the darkest. Myrrh is the gift that acknowledges that Jesus, the Messianic Liberator, is also the Lamb of Sacrifice – that He’s going to die.

And the Myrrh honors Christ’s sacrifice – and shows a willingness to contribute to it.

And how do we support and honor and contribute to Christ’s suffering and sacrifice? By sharing in it with our own sufferings

This last gift is the cheapest gift you can get for the Lord – doesn’t cost any time or money. On the contrary – a little less hot water in the shower, a little less coffee, a little less sugar, a little less sleeping in in the morning, a little less snacking.

These are the gifts where you tell the infant Christ – “I’m with you. I’m with you the whole way, including in your suffering. Here, here’s a little of my comfort, as a gift to you, because I love you more than comfort.”

If you accept what you did not choose, do not like and cannot change and unite it to the suffering of Christ you console his heart and help him save souls. And that is the greatest gift you can give.  

That’s how you give Myrrh to the baby Jesus. That’s how you keep Christ at the center of Christmas

Five

Advent and Generosity to God

Many people don’t like to think of Advent as a penitential season – even though it’s penitential enough as they run around like chickens with their heads cut off trying to get the presents and the decorations and the cooking taken care of.

But actually, Advent is a purple time – it’s a penitential time. And the practices of a penitential season – prayer, fasting and almsgiving – are just times where we’re supposed to be more generous towards Jesus.

Give the gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh – like the Magi did centuries ago, at that first Christmas.

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