Gifts of the Magi: What are the Gifts We Give to God? (Matthew 2:1-12)

On January 6 of each year, Christians celebrate  Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day.  During this celebration, we honor the revelation of Jesus as both fully God and fully human, and as the one chosen to save the world from sin.

According to Matthew 2:1-12, the Magi–or Wise Men–followed Jesus’ star to Bethlehem to find him and present him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  These gifts not only came as well wishes for the child and his earthly parents; each of the three gifts had its own symbolic meaning:

• Gold is a gift reserved for kings, and reveals Jesus’ kingly status;

• Frankincense, traditionally used in religious ceremonies, indicated Jesus’ divinity, as he was a heavenly king rather than an earthly one;

• and Myrrh, used in embalming and burial rituals, signaled Jesus’ mortality and eventual death to save the world from sin.

In this manner, the Magi presented their gifts to God, recognizing him as King of Kings and acknowledging his eventual sacrifice.

Though we may not have easy access to gold, frankincense, or myrrh, we, too, can give gifts to God and make sacrifices to thank him for his ultimate sacrifice.  Through prayerful, conscious, and responsible spending habits, we acknowledge the gifts God has given us.  The Lord bestowed us with the ability to manage our finances and possessions wisely  so that we may focus on living a life dedicated to his service.  Living a stewardship lifestyle allows us to pattern our lives in such a way that we may spread His blessings to others.

Stewardship involves the responsible management, planning and distribution of resources, including our finances.  This Christmas season, give God your stewardship and fiscal responsibility as thanks for his many gifts.  Help your family and loved ones reach their unique purposes through God by helping them relieve themselves of earthly burdens and debts.  Allocate funds to give to the community and spread God’s blessings. To learn about Catholic money management the way he intended, contact Compass Catholic today at CompassCatholic.org.