Gifts to God
Gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Gifts of the Magi for the Christ Child.
Gold was a traditional tribute gift to a king. It represented the best. By presenting gold to the Christ Child the three wise men recognized Jesus as King, and God incarnate.
Frankincense was an expensive resin burned during worship. It left no residue. Frankincense symbolized the holiness of the Christ Child. His future sacrifice would leave nothing bad behind, only his holiness would remain.
Myrrh was an aromatic gum, frequently used in embalming. As a gift to the Christ Child it represented the bitterness and suffering that were to come.
Three gifts worthy of a king. Three gifts symbolizing the Christ Child's divinity, His holiness and His death.
Three gifts presented to simple people, Mary and Joseph, now faced with the need to flee authorities. Three gifts which could be used to finance their escape to safety in Egypt.
St. Stephen's is in the midst of its Magi Project food collection to stock the shelves of the LCS Food Pantry at St. Stephen's.
We do this in honor of the Magi who brought priceless gifts to the Christ Child, who provided the means for the Holy Family to escape to safety, who understood from the beginning the divinity, holiness and future of this tiny child.
There is no great symbolism in our request for food to stock the shelves of the food pantry. There is simply recognition of a need. There is recognition that some of us have plenty, some of us have little, and that God has always blessed those who care for others.
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory… Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me…Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ (Matthew 25: 31-36, 40)
Please join us in supporting the Magi Project. Remember the Magi who brought gifts to honor the newborn King. Remember the least among us who embody Christ in our life every day.
-Ann Warner
Food donations can be dropped off at the St. Stephen's office, M-F, 9-12:30, or Sunday mornings. We thank those joining us in this effort to support our local food pantries: Christ Church Episcopal, Grace United Methodist, Zion Lutheran, Hope Lutheran, Good Shepherd Lutheran, Grace Lutheran, Church of the Holy City.
