Be the Gift

December 11, 2007

Dear St. Paul’s Family,

One of my persistent pet peeves with most churches is that the secular world seems to do a better job marketing commercial messages than we seem to do with the Good News.  A great example is the Master Card “priceless” commercials, that have the consistently poignant punchline, “There are some things that money can’t buy.  For everything else, there’s Master Card.”  If only we were as effective making the same pitch for the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ!

Nevertheless, this is the time of year that many equate the purchase value of a gift with the sentiment expressed by it.  Every year, it seems this season of giving gifts becomes more stressful and more hectic than the one before.  The shopping lists get longer, the mall crowds get crazier, and the debts sink deeper.  And then, come December 26, the real rest begins.  

But the gospels make the case that the very first Christmas happened despite chaos and anxiety, not because of it.   Over and against the hustle and bustle of a government census, the fear and paranoia of political systems, and the constant oppression of a community under siege, God gave a priceless gift.  It wasn’t a gift that God shopped for, gift-wrapped, and sent special delivery.  Instead, the gift was God’s very own self.  The present was the Presence.  God became the gift.  

And what a gift it was.  Listen to how the words of Isaiah capture the experience of wonder of God’s self-giving act:   

Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.  Say to those who are of a fearful heart, "Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you."  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. (Isaiah 35:4-6)

Here’s some good news.  If you’re looking for the perfect gift to give someone, try shopping at your local mirror.  You have the image of that very same self-giving God within you, and that might be exactly what someone else might need.  Your joyful spirit of service, sacrifice, and loving presence, with no strings or gift receipts attached, might be the perfect gift that money can’t buy.

It was no less than the gift of Jesus himself, given to us.

Grace and Peace,

Magrey deVega


The Rev. Magrey R. deVega
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
531 W. Main St.
Cherokee, IA  51012
Ph:  712-225-3955
http://www.cherokeespumc.org


Isaiah 35:1-10

1 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus
2 it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God.
3 Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.
4 Say to those who are of a fearful heart, "Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you."
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
6 then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;
7 the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
8 A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God's people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray.
9 No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there.
10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.