Week 4: Remember the Gift
December 21 - December 25
How many Christmas gifts can you remember from last year? It’s easy to forget sometimes what we got. We may remember some big or favorite things we got, but we’ve probably forgotten about the package of socks. But the important thing about gifts is not to remember how great they were, but to thank the one who gave them to us. Jesus was the greatest gift of all.
This Week’s Reading:
Matthew 2:1-12
Matthew 2:1-12
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehemin Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with giftsof gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Reflection Questions:
Why do we give gifts at Christmas? The Wise Men in this story started the tradition of giving gifts at Christmas when they brought their gifts to Jesus. And even though they brought very valuable and expensive gifts (like gold and rare spices), the most valuable and important gift of Christmas is Jesus himself. He is God’s gift to us.
Additional Readings:
Family Activity:
Write a thank you card to God listing some reasons why you are thankful that he gave the gift of Jesus. Some ideas are “he gives us life”, “he forgives us”, “he never leaves us”, or “he loves us”. Have everyone in your family sign it. Put it in an envelope and write on it “Do Not Open until Christmas 2026”. Then pack it away with your Christmas decorations to bring out next year and read again to remind you of the gift of Jesus.