Keep on Keeping Christmas
Don't give up now! It's just the Twelfth Day of Christmas, and tomorrow's the Epiphany (the traditional observance on January 6th). In the "old days" that's how Catholics observed Christmas, you know. We celebrated the whole twelve days. In fact, the Epiphany, which comes right after the Twelfth Day of Christmas, was the original day on which the Church celebrated the birth of Our Lord. It wasn't until the 4th century or so that you started getting some recognition of a separate day in addition to the Epiphany.
Yes, I know that virtually no one around you understands any of this. I suspect your boss or your clients and customers are much more interested in what you can do for them rather than in keeping Christmas as it should be kept. But, hey, you never know. Maybe they're aware of the fact that Christmas gets squished out of existence just about the day after December 25th these days. Maybe it bothers some of them too.
But whether it does of not, it's really important that we keep the Christmas flame burning a bit longer, gents.
I'm fortunate to have a private office where I can play Christmas music at times during my work day ("What Child of This" is playing right now). And, of course, we still play carols and Christmas music at home.
And I hope you haven't taken your Christmas tree down (unless it's all dried up, of course!) yet, along with all the decorations. We've got neighbors who turn out their outside lights Christmas night, and that's that. (Fortunately, some keep shining on.) You don't have to be as crazy as we are. Our stuff will be up - at least the inside stuff - until at least the end of January. Hey, once a year!
Of course, it's not just about lights and decorations. And it's not just about keeping Christmas for some "traditional" period of time. You know, it's that whole keeping the spirit of Christmas going all year. It's not just some cliche. It's really something to think about.
Jesus arrived here 2,000 years or so ago on that first Christmas Day. And He's still here. He's here with us, even physically present in the Eucharist. We really can't afford to forget that just because the Christmas Season ends and we go into "Ordinary" time.
The spirit of Christmas that brightens your work during the weeks leading up to Christmas and beyond the 25th of December really doesn't have to just disappear for the rest of the year. Every once in a while, it's OK to spend a moment or two (maybe even longer!) thinking about that Manger in Bethlehem and the joy and hope Our Lord brought to this weary world that Holy Night. There's no reason to keep Christmas all bottled up. All the peace and joy we'll all ever have came to us that first Christmas. So keep on keeping Christmas at home and at work all year. OK?
Yes, I know that virtually no one around you understands any of this. I suspect your boss or your clients and customers are much more interested in what you can do for them rather than in keeping Christmas as it should be kept. But, hey, you never know. Maybe they're aware of the fact that Christmas gets squished out of existence just about the day after December 25th these days. Maybe it bothers some of them too.
But whether it does of not, it's really important that we keep the Christmas flame burning a bit longer, gents.
I'm fortunate to have a private office where I can play Christmas music at times during my work day ("What Child of This" is playing right now). And, of course, we still play carols and Christmas music at home.
And I hope you haven't taken your Christmas tree down (unless it's all dried up, of course!) yet, along with all the decorations. We've got neighbors who turn out their outside lights Christmas night, and that's that. (Fortunately, some keep shining on.) You don't have to be as crazy as we are. Our stuff will be up - at least the inside stuff - until at least the end of January. Hey, once a year!
Of course, it's not just about lights and decorations. And it's not just about keeping Christmas for some "traditional" period of time. You know, it's that whole keeping the spirit of Christmas going all year. It's not just some cliche. It's really something to think about.
Jesus arrived here 2,000 years or so ago on that first Christmas Day. And He's still here. He's here with us, even physically present in the Eucharist. We really can't afford to forget that just because the Christmas Season ends and we go into "Ordinary" time.
The spirit of Christmas that brightens your work during the weeks leading up to Christmas and beyond the 25th of December really doesn't have to just disappear for the rest of the year. Every once in a while, it's OK to spend a moment or two (maybe even longer!) thinking about that Manger in Bethlehem and the joy and hope Our Lord brought to this weary world that Holy Night. There's no reason to keep Christmas all bottled up. All the peace and joy we'll all ever have came to us that first Christmas. So keep on keeping Christmas at home and at work all year. OK?
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