' For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace' Isaiah 9:6
'Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!' 2 Cor 9:15
The Christmas of 2020 must surely be one of the bleakest Christmases in history. The news of the unrelenting Covid-19 pandemic hitting record highs in infections and deaths is unrelenting in the week leading to the 25 December 2020. A new highly infectious strain of the virus appeared in Britain, has crossed into Europe and threatens to spread throughout the globe.
This season, governments are advising citizens not to go out to make merry, not even to meet in extended families to celebrate the Christmas. Christmas eve service in Bethlehem will not have a congregation. The Pope in the Vatican said Christmas mass without the usual crowded audience in St Peter's Square. Yesterday my family had our unusual virtual Christmas celebration on Zoom linking those of us from separate homes in Singapore, UK and the USA.
The shops are depleted of customers. There is almost no Christmas shopping. No one is trying to go bargain hunting for gifts this Christmas. There will be many a disappointed young boy or girl who will not receive many, even any, Christmas presents.
The tradition of giving each other gifts during Christmas is symbolic of the gift of the Christ child at the first Christmas. It also signifies the act of adoration and giving of presents to the Jesus by the Magi who visited him guided by the star in the east.
Now that many of us will not be receiving gifts, we can ask ourselves whether these gifts, however expensive, really matter? Instead, can we offer to each other something of worth? Can we offer to Jesus something of real worth this Christmas?
The Charis Methodist Church Choir rendered as a gift offering, a zoom virtual presentation of the song 'When I Kneel At The Manger Tonight' at our Covid-restricted, limited number, Worship Service on the 20 Dec 2020. The lyrics attempt answers to the question: What can I give to him? The real answer is, 'I have nothing to bring', nothing of worth, which is exactly what is happening with the lack of gift exchanges this Christmas.
What can I give to Him, a heavenly King?
What can I give to Him?
I have nothing to bring, but I'll offer my heart
When I kneel at the manger tonight
What can I give to Him, to honour His birth?
What can I give to Him?
I have nothing of worth, but I'll offer my heart
When I kneel at the manger tonight.
If I were as shepherd boy, I would give him a lamb
If I were a mighty king, I would give Him a golden ring
But what can I give to Him I have nothing at all?
What can I give to Him?
Would my gift be too small, if I offer my heart
When I kneel at the manger tonight.
Is it necessary to bring a gift? What if you are too poor to buy one? The Christmas carol, 'The Little Drummer Boy' helps put to rest the dilemma that we are facing about gifts and their value on this gift-less Christmas.
It is a tender story of a little boy who is told, apparently by the Magi, to go and see the new born Jesus bringing gifts to honour the baby. The boy is poor and doesn't have anything to give, so he offers to play his drum. His offering is accepted with Mary nodding her approval. The boy plays the best he can, and the infant King smiles at him.
Come they told me
A new born king to see
Our finest gifts we bring
To lay before the king
So to honor him
When we come
Little baby
I am a poor boy too
I have no gift to bring
That's fit to give our king
Shall I play for you
Mary nodded
The ox and lamb kept time
I played my drum for him
I played my best for him
Then He smiled at me
Me and my drum
In this consumer-dominated world, we often value a person by the kind of gift he brings. This Covid-19 Christmas will teach us that presents and gifts of whatever value and cost do not really matter. We can afford to strip Christmas of its commercial overtones. We can return to fully appreciating the real gift of Christmas, the gift of Jesus, an indescribable gift!
Lionel
Inspired by a sermon preached by Rev (Dr) Andrew Peh on 20 Dec 2020
