The Octave of Christmas

The day after all the festivities of sharing time with family, eating all kinds of "no-no's"  under the excuse, "It's Christmas!"  Yes it is, and our holy Church cannot contain it to one day, but extends it a whole week:  24 hours stretched out for 8 days.   And beyond that, the season continues until the Baptism of the Lord on January 11. It's not easy to sustain our Christmas High.  We have been intensely preparing for four weeks during Advent...some began ever before that.  Momentum increased until the Eve and the Day, and now the day after, there is a sigh of release, of relief.  Some have even gone back to work.  Today's Feast is St. Stephen, the first martyr, totally out of sync with the joy of the past two days.  Usually on the 28th, we remember the Holy Innocents, the victims of King Herod's jealousy.  This year, however, because the Feast of the Holy Family falls on the 28th, the Feast of the Innocents is suppressed:  one less gory tale to remember.  Both these martyrdoms, nevertheless are part of the Christmas package as the song of the St. Louis Jesuits, Emmanuel reminds us:  "the child on her lap so soon to be nailed to a tree." 
How then, do we keep the "Christmas Spirit" alive for this week and until January 1lth?  We'll for one thing, it cannot be the same high intensity as on the day itself, but we can retain the spirit of joy and giving by reflecting on just what a great Gift we have received:  God's own Son, whose love is immeasurable, and who looks not for a return gift; his is a gift of pure, unselfish, unconditional love.  The gifts we received, the time spent with family and realizing how blessed we are to love them and be loved by them, are only a shadow of the love that God has for us. Taking time to reflect on this cannot but rouse up more love and gratitude in our hearts and move us to share it with everyone. Even listening to our favorite Christmas CD's, not just as background music, but as prayer, we can deepen our appreciation for the Gift. In these simple ways, keep Christmas alive not only for the Octave, but for the whole year!
Bro. Rene