An old legend says that when the three wise men were on the way to Bethlehem.....

An old legend says that when the three wise men were on the way to Bethlehem, they fought over who was holding the most precious gift for the Holy Infant. After this quarrel, raising their eyes to the sky, they found that the star, which until that moment had been their guide, had disappeared!

Continuing their way, at some point, they reached a village.

There, they found the villagers gathered around a well that had dried up. Seeing their thirst, the wise men felt sorry for them. Immediately each of these containers with the water they were carrying for their journey was emptied and thus the villagers quenched their thirst. Bending over on the surface of the well, the wise men saw in the remaining water the reflection of the star that had disappeared.

The above legend hides a great truth: Selfishness opposes love. As each wise man selfishly claimed that his gift was the best, the star, which showed them the way to Bethlehem, disappeared.

This means that the best preparation for worshiping the divine Infant is not selfishness, vanity. But when the wise men forgot their differences, their egos and fraternized in a common act of love, then the star once again gave its guiding presence.

So if we too really want to celebrate the coming Nativity of our Lord, let's try to cleanse our hearts of every selfish mood, of every mood of showing off ourselves.

And in the place of this void, let us strive to put the life-giving virtue of love, that whoever has it, knows how to forget himself, to overcome his smallness and to help others wholeheartedly.

On the other hand, this Nativity feast itself is the great celebration of the infinite love of God, who for all of us humans, was humbled so much that he was born in a manger.

So what better gift can we offer to the incarnate God, than full and rich love for all people, starting first with our family, with our friends, colleagues, neighbors? Love, even more, let it be offered as a precious gift to the Holy Infant and to some who may have embittered us with their words, have wronged us with their behavior.

Let's try it!

Anestis Vlachos Jr.