Reflection
Listen to Today's Reflection →
While Jesus was God’s Son, he was also fully human, just like us. And the Gospel writers remind us of that over and over again… Jesus needed to eat and sleep like the rest of us. And the fact that Jesus was like us is a big part of the gospel message. Not only is Jesus for us, he is also with us. He gets us.
In the song “The Little Drummer Boy,” the boy recognizes this as well—that when Jesus walked the earth, he was like us. The boy sees Jesus, a baby, born in a barn, and thinks, I know what it’s like, little man: I am a poor boy too.
But not only did the boy see Jesus as similar to him when it came to being poor, the boy also saw Jesus as a king—worthy of great gifts. And this created a dilemma for the boy—as he says in the song, he didn’t have any material possessions to offer, especially something fit for royalty. So, he offered Jesus what he was able to give: his talent. You can almost hear this little boy, full of innocence, asking permission: “Shall I play my drum for him?” And he does. And he beams with pride when the baby smiles at his music.
Like the boy, we all have something we can do—something we can offer as a gift. What is that for you? Maybe you’re a musician. Maybe you can cook. Maybe you’re good with technology. Whatever you have to offer, it can be seen as a gift—a gift fit for a King.
Now, this fictional drummer boy had an advantage we don’t have. In the song, he’s in the physical presence of Jesus. He’s able to give his gift directly to him. But how are we supposed to do that? What does that look like? The Gospel writer Matthew gives us an answer in Matthew 25:40. In this verse, Jesus is telling his disciples one of the true indicators of what it looks like to be his follower. Our main way of giving ourselves directly to Jesus is by serving those around us—particularly those less fortunate. Jesus said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
While we may not have the opportunity to exercise our talents at the physical feet of Jesus right now, we certainly can give our talents away to those who could benefit from them.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help us to be people who see our skills and abilities as things we can offer to you by giving them away to others. Amen.
