(1 Mt 2:2) The wise men of Magi, from the East. They came searching for the Pronounced King of the Jews. They came to worship the promised saviour, to adour him, to love him, and to pay their homage. When they saw Jesus, Mt 2:10 says they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy and fell down to worship Jesus. These wise men brought with them, three significant gifts in recognition of his qualities. They offered; gold to acknowledge his kingship and royalty and frankincense, in recognition of his priesthood and divinity myrrh, for his passion and martyrdom.

After offering the above significant gifts, these wise men returned, guided by the angels to proclaim the fulfillment of God's promise.

In Lk 2:8-14 we see the reactions of the shepherds when they heard the announcement made by the angels regarding the birth of the Saviour. In Lk 2:20, we see the shepherds returning, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen as it had been told to them.

Lk 2:25-35. The next person is Simeon. He happens to be a righteous and devout man, was filled with the Holy Spirit. He comes to the synagogue and he proclaims, "For mine eyes have seen thy salvation" (Lk 2:30).

Another person who responded to the Saviour's birth was prophetess Anna. She was old. A widow, spending many years at the Temple, worshipping God with regular fasting and day and night prayers. She was looking all the while for the redemption of Jerusalem. When she saw Jesus, she gave thanks to God for the saviour (Lk 2:38) and proclaimed Jesus in all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

The coming of Jesus Christ is the divine expression and revelation of God's steadfast love for fallen mankind. It is the fulfilment of God's divine Promise. The Almighty Father, expressed his divine love for mankind by giving his only begotten Son. God did not withhold anything, but in giving everything expressed his great love for us. The virgin Mary, when she brought forth her only Son did not withhold him. Right from the conception of this holy Child of God, Mary went out giving Jesus to others, as we have already seen. St John 13:1 says that Jesus' love is an everlasting one. Even though he is God, yet for the sake of fallen mankind, Jesus humbled himself to be born as a man (but without sin), accepted the form of a slave, embraced death, a death that is ignominious on the cross, just for the sake of his love (Phil 26:6). Jesus in all its fullness gave himself for us.

So, let us all celebrate this Christmas with that clear conviction that we also should begin to give Jesus Christ to others, the way Almighty Father gave, in the manner Mary gave and ultimately in the unique way by which our Lord Jesus Christ gave himself asking us to do the same.
 
Let us start giving from now onwards to the poor, the widows, the less privileged ones, the broken-hearted, the down-trodden, the drug addicts, the sick, the homeless, the aged ones whom our Blessed Lord loves dearly. But stop for a while, and remember, we cannot give others, what we ourselves do not have in us. We cannot give Christ to others, if we ourselves do not have Christ in us. Today let us all resolve to celebrate this Christmas meaningfully.