The Giving Of Gifts

Adoraturi occurramus omnes, et muneribus sacris Deum regemque virgineo processisse fateamur ex templo: offeramus munera, quia nescenti regi semper publica paratur oblatio, offeramus munera, quia indevotus satis est vacuus adorator. Hoc probat magus, qui onustus auro, succensus thure, sacratus myrrha, Christi cunabulis inclinatur. Quale est, si quod fecit magus, non faciat Christianus? Quale est, si ad gaudium nascentis Christi fleat pauper, captivus gemat, hospes lamentetur, ejulet peregrinus? Festa coelestia Judaeus decimis semper honoravit, Christianus quid de se sentit, si vel centesimis non honorat? Fratres, ne quis me hoc dicere existimet declamantis studio, non dolentis affectu. Doleo, certe doleo, quando lego Christi cunabula magos rigasse auro, et video altare corporis Christi Christianos vacuum reliquisse et in tempore hoc praesertim, quando se pauperum fames vasta, quando se fundit turba lamentabilis captivorum. Non habeo nemo dicat, quando Deus ex eo quod habes, non ex eo quod non habes, quaerit: quando duo aera viduae in acceptum dignanter ascribit. Devoti simus Creatori, ut nobis devota sit creatura. Proximorum nostorum sustentemus angustias, ut a nostris liberemur angustiis. Repleamus altare Dei, ut nostra horrea repleat fructuum plenitudo. Certe si non damus, quia non accipimus non queramur. Sanctus Petrus Chrysologus, Sermo CIII, De Filio Viduae Excitato a Mortuis, deque Corporum Resurrectione Source: Migne PL 52 489b-490a

Let us all hurry to offer adoration, and with holy gifts let us acknowledge that our God and King has come forth from the temple of the Virgin. Let us offer gifts because a public offering is always made for the birth of a king. Let us offer gifts because utterly irreverent is the one who adores with empty hands. The Magi give proof of this, they who were weighed down with gold, flaming with frankincense, hallowed with myrrh, when they bowed down before the cradle of Christ. What shall we say if what the Magi did the Christian does not? What shall we say if during the joy of Christ's birth the poor man weeps, the captive groans, the guest laments, the wanderer wails? The Jews always honored the heavenly feasts with a tenth of his possessions; what does a Christian think about himself if he does not give honour even with a hundredth? Brothers, do not think I say because of some some passion of declamation and not because of a feeling of grief, I grieve, certainly I grieve, when I read that the Magi inundated Christ's cradle with gold and I see the altar of Christ's body empty left empty, and at this time especially when the hunger of the poor is so grave, when so lamentable a crowd of captives has poured forth. 1 Let no one say that he has nothing, when God is asking  for what you do have, not for what you do not, when He approved of the widow's two copper coins. 2 Let us be devoted to the Creator that created things be devoted to us. Let us support our neighbours in their tribulations so that we may be freed from our tribulations. Let us fill the altar of God so that a bountiful harvest may fill our barns. Certainly if we do not give, not receiving we should not complain. Saint Peter Chrysologus, from Sermon 103, On The Son of the Widow Raised from the Dead and the Resurrection of the Body 1 Possibly the depredations of the Huns 2 Mk 12.41-44, Lk 21.1-4