The Christmas Season and the Feast of the Holy Family
In the band Relient K’s version of the song “Twelve Days of Christmas”, the singer asks, “Well what’s a partridge? And what’s a pear tree? Well I don’t know, so please don’t ask me. But I can bet those are terrible gifts to get…”
We are into the Twelve Days of Christmas! Yes, the Liturgical Christmas Season in the Church actually goes way past Christmas Day – all the way until January 12th this year, which is the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord! Okay, that’s more like 19 days of Christmas, but stay with me here.
The Twelve Days of Christmas refers to the period of time from Christmas Day until the Epiphany (traditionally celebrated on January 6th). In the United States, we actually celebrate the Epiphany on the Sunday between January 2nd and 8th, but more on that next week. A week after the Epiphany is the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which is the last day of the Christmas Season liturgically.
The point is; this is the REAL Christmas Season. By the time you’re reading this, the stores have probably started decorating for Valentines’ Day or even St. Patrick’s Day already. Christmas songs stopped being played on the radio on the drive home from Grandma’s house on Christmas night. But walk into a Catholic Church two weeks after Christmas and you’ll still see plenty of lights, Christmas trees, and probably about five thousand poinsettias. They’ll still be singing “O Come Let Us Adore Him”, and it’s not because the baby Jesus is adorable (though I’m sure he was a cute kid). Adore means “worship” in that song!
The Christmas Season also contains some awesome Feast Days including the Feast of St. Stephen (the first martyr), the Feast of St. John (the Apostle who wrote one of the Gospels), the Solemnity of Mary the Holy Mother of God, and this Sunday which is the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
When you think about the Feast of the Holy family, take a second and think about all the trust involved here. Joseph trusts that God will lead him as he tries to protect his family, fleeing to Egpyt, then coming back and moving to Nazareth. Mary trusts in her husband Joseph that he will sacrifice and lay down his life as he loves, serves, provides for, and takes care of her and Jesus.
Most striking is how God himself trusts Mary and Joseph. Mary and Joseph were two pretty amazing and holy human beings, but they were human. Jesus Christ, the creator of the universe incarnate, trusts Mary and Joseph to feed him, rock him to sleep, and change his diapers.
Mary would teach him to wash his hands before dinner. Joseph would teach him to be a carpenter so he could go into the family business. By the way, how cool would it be to have a dining room table and chairs made by Jesus? The Feast of the Holy Family really highlights how God can use simple, humble people as vessels to do great things!
So remember, it’s still Christmas! Keep those Christmas lights up, keep baking those cookies, and keep that “3 Hour Fireplace” YouTube video playing!
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