Sunday, January 6, 2008

Epiphany A

Matthew 2:1-12

  WHAT WILL YOU GIVE THE CHRIST CHILD IN 2008?

Once upon a time in a tiny village in Italy there lived an orphan named Giovanni.  He dressed in rags, begged for food, and slept in doorways.  Nonetheless, he was happy, because he could do something very special–he could juggle.

Every day at Signor Baptista’s fruit and vegetable stand Giovanni would juggle oranges, lemons, apples, and even zucchini in exchange for a cup of soup.  People loved to gather to watch him juggle, and then they bought from Signor Baptista.  So it was a good arrangement for all.

One day a troupe of traveling players came to town.  Giovanni was so taken with their performance that he begged the maestro to take him along.  At first the maestro said, “No.” But when he saw Giovanni juggle, he agreed.

It was not long until the maestro gave Giovanni a costume.  He would put on a clown face and then begin to juggle.  He juggled sticks and plates and clubs and rings and burning torches.  Soon he became very popular with the crowds.  Their favorite part was when he juggled different colored balls.  It was as if he were juggling the rainbow.  As the grand finale he would announce, “And now for the Sun in the Heavens”; and while juggling he would toss a gold ball higher and higher as the crowds cheered.

Giovanni’s fame spread, and he even performed before dukes and princes.  Always he would finish with the rainbow and the Sun in the heavens.

One day as Giovanni was traveling he met a couple of monks who belonged to the Little Brothers of the Poor.  They asked for a bit of food, which Giovanni gladly shared.  As they ate together, they explained that their mission was to share the joy of God.  “Our founder, Brother Francis,” they explained, “says that everything sings of the glory of God.  Why even your juggling.”

“That’s all well and good for men like you,” said Giovanni, “but I only juggle to make people laugh and applaud.”  “It’s the same thing,” they said.  “If you give happiness to people, you give glory to God as well.”  “If you say so!” responded Giovanni.  “But I must be going.  Good luck.”

For many years things went well for Giovanni.  But then he grew old, and times became hard.  People were no longer as interested in watching him.  “We’ve seen that old clown juggle before.”

Then one day the unthinkable happened.  Giovanni dropped the Sun in the Heavens.  People booed and hissed and threw vegetables and stones at him.  He had to run for his life.

Giovanni cleaned off his clown make-up, put away his costume, and gave up juggling forever.  Before long his money ran out, and Giovanni was back to begging and sleeping in doorways.  Finally he decided to head back to the town he had grown up in as a child.

It was cold and windy that winter night when he arrived in his home town.  He needed a place to sleep, so he went to the monastery church of the Little Brothers of the Poor.  He found a spot in a dark corner, and there he fell asleep.

He slept soundly until he was awakened by wondrous music.  He looked out and saw a long line of people with beautiful gifts.  They were moving toward the front and placing their gifts in front of a statue of a lady and her child.  “What is all this about?”  Giovanni asked an old woman.  “It’s the birthday of the Christ child,” she said.  When it was all over and the people had left, Giovanni approached the statue.  “Oh, Lady,” he said.  “How I wish I had something beautiful to offer you.   Your child seems so sad.”

Just then Giovanni remembered the words of the two Little Brothers of the Poor, “If you give happiness to people, you give glory to God as well.”  Giovanni said to himself, “I used to make people happy with my juggling.   I will juggle for the Christ child.”

He took out his costume and put on his clown makeup.  He juggled with sticks and then plates and clubs and rings.  Then he began to juggle the colored balls and finally the Sun in the Heaven.  The gold ball went higher and higher.  Never had he juggled so well.  His heart pounded.  “For you, Christ child, for you!” he cried.

Then his old heart stopped, and he fell dead on the floor.  The priest and the sexton who were coming to close up saw him collapse.  They rushed over, and the priest said, “The poor old clown is dead.”

A moment later the sexton happened to look up at the statue.  “Look,” he said.  The priest glanced up, and there was the child holding the gold ball and smiling. ^[1]

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The story of Giovanni’s gift is a shining example of what it means to give our best to the Christ child.  Giovanni had no wealth or fancy gifts to give to the Christ child.

So he gave the Christ child what he did best.  He gave the Christ child what he had given people for so many years–his ability to juggle.  He used his juggling to bring joy into their lives.  His talent for juggling was the best gift Giovanni had to give to the Christ child.

On Epiphany we remember the beautiful account of the visit of the Wise Men to the Christ child.  When they saw his star in the East, they were filled with wonder and desired to worship him and give him gifts.  They followed the star until it stopped over the place where he lay.  Realizing that they had reached their destination, they were “overwhelmed with joy.”  They entered the dwelling, fell to their knees before him, and then offered gifts to him of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Gold was a gift fit for a king.  Jesus was the newborn king, a king unlike all others.  He would rule over all, not by force and coercion like King Herod, but by love and compassion.  He would rule not from a throne, but from a cross.  Nonetheless, he would be king. He was honored by a gift of gold.

Frankincense was a gift fit for a priest.  Frankincense was a sweet perfume used for temple worship and sacrifices.  The priest’s job was to open up a way to God for people.  The Christ child was sent into the world to build a bridge from God to human beings.  He was the highest of priests.  He was honored by a gift of frankincense.

Myrrh was a gift fit for one who is to die.  Myrrh was a fragrant gum resin used in a substance to embalm bodies.  The Christ child was born to die for the salvation of the whole world.  He was the promised Messiah, the Savior of the world.  He was honored by a gift of myrrh.

On Epiphany we are filled with wonder at what God has done and continues to do through the Christ child.  People of faith cannot help but be filled with gratitude.  Filled with gratitude we will want to give a special gift to honor the Christ child and glorify God.  What will you give to the Christ child in 2008?

Few of us are as wealthy as the Wise Men.  At the same time none of us are as poor as Giovanni was at the end of his life.  Thus, we can give to the Christ child from our wealth; and it is fitting to do so.  Certainly our first fruits giving will honor the Christ child.

But we do not need to stop there.  The story of Giovanni suggests that the best gift we can give to the Christ child may well be some talent or ability that will bring joy into people’s lives.  Surely those who are overwhelmed with joy in the presence of the Christ child will want to give him the very best gift possible.  For as the Little Brothers of the Poor told Giovanni, “everything that brings happiness and joy into the lives of others sings of the glory of God.”

In Romans 12:6 the Apostle Paul writes: “We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us.”  Perhaps you have a gift for teaching, then teach for the Christ child.  Perhaps you have a gift for singing, then sing for the Christ child.  Perhaps you have a gift for building and repairing, then build and repair for the Christ child.  Perhaps you have a gift for listening, then be a good listener for the Christ child.  Perhaps you have a gift for tending the sick, then tend the sick for the Christ child.  Perhaps you have a gift for leadership, then be a leader for the Christ child.  Perhaps you have a gift for prayer, then pray for others on behalf of the Christ child.  

Some may say, “I really do not have any special gifts.”  Surely this is not true--everyone has a special gift to offer to the Christ child.  There are people with 5 talents, people with 2 talents, and people with 1 talent.  I have yet to meet a person with no talents.  2008 is no time to bury your talents.

Later this spring at St. Andrew, as part of our A Place of Grace Ministry and Mission Fund Campaign, each of us will be invited to discern what time, talents, and possessions we have to offer to further the life and ministry of the church.  But there is no need to wait.  The time to give is now.  Whatever you give make it your very best gift, as Giovanni did.  Be assured that inasmuch you give your very best gift it will bring joy into people’s lives, it will sing of the glory of God, and it will honor the Christ child.

In his name, AMEN