Living the Message Dec.27

Dec. 27

The Offering (Christmas 1983)

May the kings of Tarshish and of isles render him tribute,
may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts!
Long may he lives,
may gold Sheba be given to him!(Psalm 72:10, 15)

Brought up in a world where there's no free lunch
And trained to use presents for barter, I'm spending
The rest of my life receiving this gift with no
Strings attached, but not doing well.

Three bathrobed wise with six or seven
Inches of jeans and sneakers showing, kneel,
Offering gifts that symbolize the gifts
That none of us is ready yet to give.

A few of us stay behind, blow out the candles,
Sweep up the straw and put the crèche in storage.

We open the door into the world's night
And find we've played ourselves into a better

Performance. We leave with our left-over change changed
At the offertory into kingdom gold.

Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.

Matthew 1:11b