Dr. Agnes Thomas

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger (Luke 11:12)

Can you imagine the Magi’s surprise when they finally reached the manger to see the infant king? Were they shocked to discover the king they were looking for was this baby in the cattle shed lying on top of the hay? The young family looked like refugees in a new land with no support. Were the Magi disappointed, upset, or angry? Did they feel misled? Hard to know what must have transpired in their minds, but we all know the story. They didn’t turn back and leave; they knelt before the king and presented the gift with reverence and utmost devotion as if the environment in which they met their king didn’t matter. To them, their sole focus was the miracle and the blessing of meeting their newborn king. Maybe they were transformed by the presence of infant Jesus, and nothing else mattered.

My reflections on the birth and life of Jesus resonate with the people whom I meet in neighborhoods, in those who are marginalized due to their life and social circumstances. His birth and life choices reflect the lives of everyday people struggling to make ends meet, people seeking refuge, and people misunderstood and challenged by the authorities of their presence and intentions. Then I ask myself – what does it all mean in our context? His ecosystem gives us an alternative view of kingship, power, and privilege. I believe his presence and humble birth are a call out for us as his followers to seek out the neighbor in need in the celebration of our great and humble king and make gifts worthy for the king to give away to children and families in need in our cities and neighborhood.

I tried to imagine this scene playing out right now in our midst and our response to this discovery of the promised king in a shack with no whistles or bells. What do we tell our friends, our children, and the people who will come to see this king that they are poor and foreigners in this land and his parents didn’t even have a place to stay? Or do we disown knowing the king, conceal the story, and make a new one that fits our trees and gifts? I often wonder what our reaction to his circumstances will be, especially after building an empire on material goods and gifts for the season, that the central person of the story does not appear to resonate with the current celebrations of Christmas.

I like to think the symbolism in the gift-giving of the magi in our time is their genuine joy of seeing the baby Jesus and their humility and reverence in their expressions. They are not questioning their intelligence or trusting what they see; they don’t reconsider if they should be leaving such expensive gifts to parents who seem so poor and lost. There was no judgment, no turning back, and only love, joy, and humility. They did not seem to notice or pay any attention to this new baby’s surroundings.

The manger presents us with the question: what are our ways of welcoming and celebrating people as true neighbors and friends? Is it based on their looks, social status, money, and privileges? Do we choose gifts accordingly?

The Magi teach us the gift in the story is Jesus and to be prepared to see the king in the form of an elderly neighbor or child with a disability or a single mom struggling to feed her family this season and present your gift with the utmost respect and love not out of sympathy. The season is about being present in the presence of a humble king who was born to love and love again, justly and humbly. Are we ready to live the truth of the manger and reveal the true nature of Jesus in our choices and actions? Do we dare to tell our children the true story of Jesus and how that should be exemplified in our celebrations and actions? The story also reveals the presence of Jesus that transforms and transcends our senses beyond our earthly views and perceptions. Have we met the king yet?