AS WE celebrate the Epiphany of our Lord, we are all familiar with the gifts presented to Jesus by the wise men, as well as their symbolism.

Gold – Jesus is King, Frankincense – Jesus is God, Myrrh – Jesus is human.

It is easy for us to wonder their significance to us today in the 21st century.

Hardly the sort of gifts we would consider giving to a baby today.

If we think about it, these gifts are the most important offerings we can bring for Christ today.

The sweet perfume of Frankincense is our offering of faith.

How important is faith in a world of suffering and doubt.

It seems little has changed in 2,000 years, as the world of the refugee, displaced Christ Child seems as chaotic as ours is today, but faith gives us hope for the future, a future with Christ at its heart.

The gift of Myrrh reminds us of the terrible suffering there is in this world and it is easy for us to say, “Well there is nothing I can do about that, there is just too much. What can I do which will make any difference at all?”

As Her Majesty the Queen in her Christmas address, quoting Mother Teresa (now St. Teresa of Calcutta) said: “Not all of us can do great things, but all of us can do small things with great love.”

Which leads on to the gift of Gold, the greatest gift of all – Love.

It is easy to love those who love us but it is not so easy to love those whom we find unlovable, for whatever reason.

But if we remember that God loved us so much that He sent His Son, born in the stable, visited by poor shepherds and wise men, to be our Saviour.

Is it asking too much of us to love one another?

PAULINE FARMAN
St Margaret’s Bagendon