Christmas

Christmastide begins, of course, on December 25th. This season lasts 12 days, ending on Epiphany on January 6th.

While Christmas is the first feast of the incarnation in the liturgical year, it is not the first in the calendar year. The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on March 25th is also a feast of the Incarnation. These two dates (March 25th and December 25th) are significant in that they teach what the church believes: that Jesus, while being fully God, was fully human — it took nine months for him to be born, just like the rest of us! And creed and calendar tell us what the Church teaches us.

The Christmas season is a short and joyful one, but it must be noted that the day after Christmas we remember St. Stephen, the first martyr of the Church. This is followed by the Feast of St. John the Evangelist on the 27th and Holy Innocents on the 28th. This is a reminder to us that in the midst of great joy there is pain, suffering, and hardship, which helps us to keep our balance in an ever changing world where the only thing that we can depend on is the love of God.

The collect for Christmas Day is to be read throughout the Octave (8 days) of Christmas. It reminds us that “we being regenerate” -or born again- in our baptism, are children of God and that we need to be renewed daily on our journey. Being ‘born again’ isn’t a one shot deal — we must call on God daily.

Almighty God, who hast given us thy only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin; Grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit ever; one God, world without end. Amen.

The feast of the Circumcision of Our Lord also occurs during Christmastide. This first act of obedience to God in the Old Testament Law shows us by His example to will the things of God. This feast comes eight days after Christmas and according to the Law it was at this time that he was given His name. And as foretold by the angel He was named Jesus.

At Christmas we remember that Jesus the Word “was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” May we all take time during this holy time of Christmas to ponder the mystery of the Incarnation.

Text by Donna Downen