The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us! (Jn. 1:14).
How can you live more fully the reality of the Incarnation in your life where God’s Son becomes one of us to lift us up to a more godly and ontological destiny?
This is the theme of the Christmas season. Our 9 year old daughter Abigail (Hebrew for “joy of the Father”) knows that there are 12 days of Christmas. Our family doesn’t tend to open all the gifts on the first day of the Christmas season, and instead spaces out the giving of gifts leading up to the the Feast of the Epiphany (Theophany) and the three kings giving gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The gold given to Jesus symbolizes his kingly role. The gift of frankincense symbolizes his role of priestly ministry as being the ultimate sacrifice for our transgressions on the cross at Calvary. The myrrh symbolizes the anointing of his body and embalming with a sweet fragrance (https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/jesus-historical-jesus/why-did-the-magi-bring-gold-frankincense-and-myrrh/).
Our family’s celebration ends with the chalking of our doors and blessings of our family household. https://onepeterfive.com/the-chalking-of-the-doors-an-epiphany-tradition-explained/
Don’t put away those Christmas decorations just yet and enjoy this time of great joy where we are called to spread the Light of the World to others. If you are bold enough, leave the decorations up until February 2 and the presentation of Jesus in the temple commemoration (https://www.passionistnuns.org/passionist-calendar/2024/2/2/feast-of-the-presentation-of-jesus).
May the Christmas miracle abide with you and your family now and forever as we journey into a new calendar year in 2024!
Pax,
Eric
StreetEvangelist 