Christmas began yesterday, (the first of twelve days leading up to Epiphany on January 6). And did you notice? All but essential services were closed. Parking lots empty, roadways all but vacant. Even the clamoring chaos of the stock exchange – silent. Jesus’ arrival had, and continues to have, that calming, (worshipful?) effect. Sure, today will roar into ‘life’ again as before, but for a full 24 hours, peace settled on the world around us, giving agreement, perhaps reticently, that this birth was significant enough to merit a commercial 24-hour ceasing.
Because today, (the second day of Christmas), goes full bore in most places, it is important that we show to those ‘most places,’ the ongoing four themes of Advent – hope, peace, joy, Love. As we bask in the special moments shared with family and friends, we get to live out loud our joy. Surrounded by the now-unwrapped gifts by our trees, we are warmed with knowing that Jesus is the Gift. Over-stuffed from those first holiday feasts, we sense the Holy Spirit wants us to feast on the beauty of our friendship with Jesus. Seeing the lighted decorations in yards across the towns where we live, we are reminded of a Light that has come to dispel all darkness.
As people are speaking of Christmas already in the past tense, what a sweet opportunity to be Christmas bearers (but not over-bearers, please)! Yes, the Advent season has passed, but the message of that special time never fades, never diminishes, never gets old. So much goes into waiting for the arrival of a baby, but once the baby is here, far from being an ending, a whole new set of things to celebrate kicks into gear. We are blessed, y’all! Do take some time to ponder like Mary and to shout like the shepherds. Merry (still) Christmas! PD
