 | ||||
| ||||
Though I would never have the patience to grace the parking lot of a shopping mall or the aisles of a department store in this post-Christmas season, tens of thousands did just that this week, as people returned gifts that didn’t quite fit in one way or another. What the characters on the old Jerry Seinfeld sitcom called regifting has become part of what we might call the economics of Christmas. I’m not sure what that means for the spirit of giving, but it did make me think about what the gift of Christmas means as the season passes.One of the chief symbols of the Christmas story is the star of Bethlehem seen by the Magi of this feast of Epiphany. It represents the manifestation of the Christ breaking into our world to dispel the darkness of sin and death, and offering those who follow this light a vision of new possibilities. Both Isaiah and Matthew see this light as a gift. The Magi respond by following the star with gifts of their own, but clearly, the gift they have been given far outweighed even their gold, frankincense and myrrh.That same gift, that star, troubled some. It was not just that people at that time were frightened by an astrological phenomenon; such signs were thought to portend radical change. For Herod, who was in charge, this was dangerous. For the people, who had virtually no power, this was indeed a cause for concern. Both the joy and the apprehension generated by the gift of this star find meaning in our own time.For us the gift of the star is seen in the mission and message of the Christ . The life of Jesus offered in the Gospels is the light by which we, as his disciples, can envision a world transformed by his presence in the world. For some in our time, this gift is received with great joy. Those who embrace the light of Christ see the potential for the transformation of the world. That vision foretells the end of war and division, of greed and self-interest. It offers the hope of a world of peace and justice.For others the star is troubling. Change is often disconcerting. For those whose vested interests are threatened, even change for the good is a frightening prospect. If the star offers the promise of the end of war and division, those in power, those who profit from such a status quo, will retaliate, not unlike King Herod. Even those who would benefit from the transformation of the world order might find the prospect of change too disconcerting. The phenomenon of the star holds too much mystery for those who are unwilling to embrace change.If we are to see in the star the transformation of the world into the vision of the Christ, we must be willing to allow our joy in its light to overcome our apprehension of the changes it will bring about. In times of terror, we must allow the vision of the Christ to show us the way to reconciliation and peace. In an age of political unrest, the promise of the star can lead us to dialog and compromise. In an age in which the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, the message of the Gospels can shed light on the pathway to justice.I know that at times I would prefer returning this gift for something that fits me more comfortably. I would prefer not being asked to live with less so those in need might have more. I would rather hold on to my prejudices than let go of the shallow comfort they afford. Make no mistake about it, for all the joy we feel in this Christmas season, we can easily be tempted to regift the meaning held by star of Bethlehem. In the spirit of this feast of the Epiphany, at this Eucharistic celebration, we come to a renewed awareness of the vision intend by our God in the coming of the Christ among us as one of us. That light must find its way into our daily lives. We are challenged to abandon the apprehension that so often comes with newness. We are invited to embrace with joy the promise of the star. As we begin a new year, we pledge to live Gospel, so that by what we do and say we will continue to bring the light of Christ’s message of hope and his mission of service to the world in which we live. 