In The Wake Of Christmas There Is More To Give And Celebrate

It is December 26 and sadly people are saying “Finally, Christmas is over!” Some fresh trees, still decorated, are set at the curb for the trash along with the balled up wrappings and torn boxes. Even gifts that that the receiver deemed useless are now perishing and taking up space in the garbage can. Just days after Christmas decorations for Valentine’s Day line the shelves in the stores and the remnants of a retailer’s heaven, rather than symbols of Christ’s birth, has whittled down to a small markdown table or isle. Just before New Year’s Day there is barely a hint of joy left in voices and the cheer that filled houses just last week are no more. Gone in many households are the ongoing implementations of charitable acts, kindnesses toward a neighbor or stranger, and the excitement of being a model of Jesus, and the one to step forward to love and forgive a trespasser has all but died away. It’s as if a storm has hit us and left in its wake only fragments of evidence of a rush of a holiday season. Some feel relieved of stressed filled days, hastened purchases and sometimes obligatory cooking and preparing for a visit all for a single day or night with family and friends. The extra chairs rented for some churches in the hopes that people would come to worship may have depleted their surplus and now in hindsight recorded as an unnecessary expense. Does the world realize that 4 weeks prior to Christmas we should have been preparing our hearts, our homes, and our attitudes for a life change. Did we feel The Holy Spirit through our daily prayers, requests for needs and petitions of thanksgiving? Did we experience transformation from the fruit of our good works to a degree that it became a habit without any thoughts to remind us to be upright, decent and moral? Did our sacrifices of selflessness and eye opening humble experiences charge and change us, peaking on Christmas Day? Did we spend time in prayer, reflecting on what the birth of Christ means in our lives and what effect His birth has upon our ultimate demise? Every year the Catholic Church celebrates Liturgical Cycles and Holy Days. In particular, during the Advent and Christmas season the church, the people, have an opportunity to celebrate, worship, and grow in spirit and in our relationship with God, Jesus and The Holy Spirit. Every year following Christmas Eve the church celebrates and honors the Nativity of the Lord, the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, The Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, The Epiphany of the Lord, and The Baptism o f the Lord. Where is it that we are spending our time that may be keeping us from participating in these beautiful masses and days of reflections? Christmas is not over! Christmas should live on in our spirits! Christmas was the reminder that God gave us His Son so that we might be saved! What becomes of our spirit in the wake of Christmas and everyday of our lives tells God a lot about us. He knows when you’ve been sleeping. He knows when you’re awake. He knows when you’ve been bad or good. When your tree no longer has the fresh fragrance of pine and when the decorations are put away until next year, don’t pack the joy, peace and love of your spirit in a box, share that gifts of these graces everyday! In the wake of Christmas there is more to give and celebrate!