Mary, the most beautiful gift we can give to Jesus

Jesus, who came to us risking suffering and death, deserves to be given gifts! This is one of the meanings of the feast of the Epiphany. The Magi from the East paid homage and adoration to him with gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Following their example, we are invited to give him a gift that is worthy of what he did for us. We have yet to find a gift that can match the mystery of the Incarnation, by which the second Person of the Trinity accepted to give up his divine privileges to espouse a human nature marked by the pain of sin.

What gift would be fitting for the Word to become flesh, to repay his sufferings, even though he came to live among us with gladness? The answer is simple: the greatest gift that men can give to Jesus is Mary!

Indeed, only the Immaculate is worthy of the mystery of the Incarnation. A liturgical hymn of the Eastern Church expresses this truth perfectly: "What shall we bring you, O Christ, who became incarnate on earth for us? Each of the creatures that are your work indeed brings you proof of their gratitude: the angels their love; the sky the star, the wise men their gifts, the shepherds their amazement; the earth its cave, the desert the manger. But we, men, bring you a Virgin and Mother." More than gold, frankincense and myrrh, the real gift to give Jesus, as a tribute, is his own mother!

The first reason is that the Virgin is the "Eucharistic woman" (St. John Paul II) who perfectly returns to God what he deserves, the gratitude due to him for his actions on our behalf. Above all, the sinless Virgin never doubted God. Now, what does God ask of us first, what gift pleases him the most? Simply our faith. In the synagogue at Capernaum, to those who asked him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?", Jesus answered, "The work of God is that you believe in him whom he has sent."

Adapted from: Jean Michel Castaing on 02/01/21

https://fr.aleteia.org/2021/01/02/le-plus-beau-cadeau-jamais-offert-a-jesus/