27 December 2020
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Christ is born!
The day of Christmas has passed, but the Church is still in the octave of Christmas, celebrating the birth of our Savior over and over again until January 1st, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. In our Gospel today we read that even after the birth of Jesus, when He was just over a month old, the joy of His birth was still being recognized. In Simeon and Anna we see models of how we might continue to celebrate the birth of Jesus: notice the deep gratitude with which Simeon prays his famous Nunc dimittis: “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace…” He has awaited this great mercy from God for years, and now his waiting has come to an end. Or look to Anna, who “…gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all…” We can get so caught up in the worldly aspects of Christmas, and can be worn out by the time the day has passed, that we neglect to do as Mary always does and reflect on our Advent and Christmas experience in our heart (Luke 2:19). We neglect our prayer, our worship, but without that reflection, prayer, and worship, what thanksgiving can we give to God, and what can we say to others about the Child who has been born?
It is still Christmas: come, let us adore Him!