In this day and age, December 26th is a bit of a letdown for most people.
The presents, the feasts, the music ... all of it has been replaced with a dose of reality. Some call it a Christmas Hangover, others the Christmas Slump.
But I wonder what the day after Christ's birth was like for those in Bethlehem. Sure, Mary and Joseph had to deal with a newborn - which was life-changing in its own right.
(We interrupt this blog post for a tangent. Did you ever think about life for the Holy Family those first few days? How long was it until they found a better living situation? How many visitors did they have the day after? What were people in Bethlehem saying? How many residents of the city even knew what happened? What did Mary and Joseph talk about? Did Joseph find any relatives? How often did the baby Jesus cry?)
In any case, I'm guessing there was no hangover for them at all. Or the shepherds. Or any of those that witnessed the Miracle in their midst.
I bet they felt hope. Yes, it might have been coupled with some wonder and questions. But I bet it was quite different than what society feels today.
The reason is obvious, of course.
Their Christmas was truly focused on Our Savior.
Today's Christmas seems to be focused on anything but.
I hope you and your families are having a blessed Christmas season. God Bless you.
1 comment:
"Today's Christmas seems to be focused on anything but."
That's what makes me sad. Do you know that only a third of schools here in the UK have a Nativity play at Christmas. And the story has been totally diluted to include amongst the visitors famous footballers, actors and celebrities. Basically, it bears no resemblance to what we are taught in the Gospels. It's just a story of a woman giving birth and a famous person came to see the baby. That's what we're teaching our children.
God bless you Michael.
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