“Happy
Third Day of Christmas” was the opening of the homily today at Holy Family
Catholic Church in Hilton Head, South Carolina.
On this great solemnity for St. John, it does seem as if the entire
world has forgotten that there are twelve days in Christmas. I made the mistake
of not bringing any Christmas CD’s and cannot find any Christmas music, not
even on Christian music stations.
For most of
Advent, I try not to listen to Christmas music.
Pandora’s Advent station becomes one of my most used sources for music
during advent. I’ve come to love the
Advent songs. There are thirteen verses
to” O Come, O Come Emmanuel”. “O Come Devine Messiah” and “Creator of the
Stars at Night” are now in my Advent repertoire. I have been singing the great Christmas
carols to myself as I take the time to praise God for the gift of his only Son.
The
feasts that we, as Catholics celebrate this week are inspiring and
beautiful. Yesterday we remembered
Stephen, the first Martyr. I read an
essay that reflected on the fact that Stephen and Paul are in heaven, ecstatic
to be together, although Paul, then known as Saul watched Stephen be stoned to
death. The point was made that Stephen
wanted everyone to know Jesus as he did and that Saul’s conversion would have
filled Stephen with delight -a wonderful second day of Christmas.
Today,
the Apostle John, the one to whom Jesus gave his mother and the one who first
believed at the tomb, was the focus of the Eucharistic celebration. Tomorrow it will be the feast of the Holy
Innocents, the children whom Herrod had killed to eliminate the Messiah. I would imagine that the children who were massacred
in Connecticut will be prayed for during the prayers of the faithful at
churches all around the country, and perhaps the world. Saturday will be the feast of St. Thomas
Beckett who was martyred in 1170 and then Sunday is the Feast of the Holy
Family. And on it goes until January 6th,
which is Epiphany, the twelfth day of Christmas.
If you
are not ready to join the after Christmas madness of shopping, and preparing
for New Year’s Eve, stop by your local Catholic Church. You will find a place that celebrates the
birth of Christ until Epiphany. Christ,
as a tiny baby will be found in the Crèche.
As you breathe, you will inhale the pine scent of the trees and you eyes
will be delighted will altars decorated with a plethora of poinsettias.
Most
importantly, you will find Christ in the tabernacle and a quiet place to pray
and reflect. Whether it is the third day of Christmas, or the 198 day of
ordinary time, it is a day to thank God for his great gift.
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