As we celebrate Epiphany, and hear the Magi bringing their gifts to Jesus, we’re invited to ponder the question: What gift do I bring to Jesus?

And realize that the gift you bring to the baby Jesus is of no less significance or value than the gold, frankincense and myrrh that were brought 2000 years ago.

I suppose there are two ways of prayerfully approaching that question of “what gift do I bring to Jesus”? There is the present moment—this Christmas, this year, what gift can I bring to Jesus? What is specific to this time of my life—the gift that I am eager to bring to Jesus? (As eager as the magi with the gold/frankincense/myrrh). And ultimately, there is no more precious gift each year to bring than our heart. What do parents usually tell their kids each Christmas when asked what they want for Christmas—it’s usually something as simple and beautiful as a hug or an expression of their love right? And those who are parents know there is no more precious gift than your child’s heart and love. It is no different with the Lord.

And then perhaps there is the longer-range approach to that prayerful question—what gift of my life can I bring to Jesus? And this is what I want to invite us to focus more on this weekend. This is where I found myself being drawn in my own prayerful reflections on this Feast of the Epiphany. What is the gift of my life that I can give back to the Lord?

For most, if not all of us, the gift we make of our lives will be made primarily in the living out of our vocations, whether it be marriage (most of us), the priesthood, religious life, or in some cases, the single life.

Our Bishop has asked that 2026 be a Year of Vocation for the Diocese of Burlington, praying especially for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life among our young people.

A vocation is God’s calling to us, marked by signs, marked by a decision, marked by a journey, and defined by living it out—as a gift.

Consider that ultimately it was the Lord who called the Magi forth. They saw the signs (the star), made the decision to undertake the journey (which was not an easy one), and then offered their gifts.

Isn’t that the same with any of us in our own vocations? It always begins with a calling from the Lord (whether we recognize it or not) and then there are various signs along the way and ultimately we must make a decision and actually undertake the journey.

In the case of marriage, sometimes we realize it early on when two people come together that it is the Lord’s hand at work—sometimes it is much later. Similar with the call to the priesthood or consecrated life or single life or even the diaconate. As that process plays out—we look for signs that this is the right path (like the star to the Magi). And we have to persevere through the inevitable trials and doubts. (Consider that the Magi’s trip was probably between 1000-1200 miles—by camel). Lots of time for doubt to creep in or challenges to crop up. And yet they were called (and we are called) to persevere, to not quit, to decide to continue the journey—in the case of a vocation—a lifetime journey—which ends—as it did for the wisemen—before Jesus.

And in each of these stages is the opportunity to offer a gift: the gift of seeking that which the star points to; the gift of undertaking the journey; and perhaps most importantly for most of us, the gift we give when we continue to say yes to offering our lives in that vocation—for a priest, his parish; for a religious, their community and apostolate; for marriage, one’s spouse and any children the Lord brings.

That’s my invitation to you—to see your living out of your vocation as offering a gift to the Lord—again, of no less value then the gold, frankincense and myrrh offered.

A few examples:

-St. Mother Teresa would say: “You want to change the world? Go home and love your family” i.e. live out your vocation as a gift to those you are called to serve and be with.

-St. Augustine who famously said, “our hearts are restless until they rest in thee.” He found our Lord, found his heart’s desire—but that was not the end of the story. How did he live this out as a gift to others? He was called to be a priest and eventually a bishop. In other words, his vocation lived as a gift.

-I was praying early one morning in Advent before the Nativity in our living room. I was struck by the empty spot between Mary and Joseph, it wasn’t Christmas yet. There was a hole where Jesus would eventually be. Jesus ultimately fills that hole in the Nativity, and for all of us. However, it is in the living out of our vocation that we make the gift back to the Lord. For Joseph and Mary it was in the living out of their marriage and the raising of Jesus that they made a gift. For me it is as a husband, father and deacon—for each of us it is whatever the Lord has called us to—and to make the living out of that vocation a gift given back to the Lord.

-In the 1st reading from Isaiah this weekend we heard:

“See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples, but upon you the Lord shines, and over you appears his glory. …Then you shall be radiant at what you see, your heart shall throb and overflow…”

I think that’s what it looks like to have found Christ and then to have found the vocation He is calling you to—-“your heart shall throb and overflow” —isn’t that a great description of falling in love? And isn’t that a great description of both finding your vocation and then living put your vocation as a gift?

So this Christmas—again the question—what gift can I bring to Jesus—hopefully your heart—and beyond that—to see the living out of your vocation—as the husband, father, wife, mother, grandparent, priest, deacon, single person this year. What gift will you bring to Jesus?