A Christmas greeting from Father Ananias!
Peace be with you and Blessed Christmas!
You know, when I was growing up there was a woman who lived directly across the railroad tracks from our house. And on Christmas, we would take bets as to just when it was that our neighbor would open her door a crack on her front porch and reach her arm around the door without coming outside, and like the grinch who stole christmas, stealthily snatch the wreath off the door in one fell swoop and sneak back inside.
It became part of our Christmas tradition to hear my mother say, "Well mark your clocks, Christmas officially ended on December 26th at 10:32 eastern standard time. Mrs. Kennedy has removed the wreath, I repeat, Mrs. Kennedy has removed the wreath!"
People, Christmas begins at Midnight Mass on the eve of the 25th and it does not end on the 26th; it is an octave! Eight days! Holy Church insists we treat eight full days as one. There is a Gloria at every Mass! We get to utter the words of angels!
Don't you dare rush Christmas
Your christmas parties, gift exchanges, and secret Santa, whatever it is, those things should only be the beginning. Your decorations should stay up at least until epiphany tide is done! Your tree shouldn't be tossed to the curb as you listen to me speak! The crib, the flowers, the greenery, all of those will remain in my parish church until the Baptism of the Lord at least, or until the flowers wilt and fade, whichever happens first.
I plead with you don't rush Christmas. Now, I know full well that most of you already did. You had Christmas parties during Advent! You put up Christmas trees instead of Advent wreaths, you trimmed the hearth and set the table so many times that when Christmas actually arrives, you are too exhausted and spent to celebrate it fully. The cart went before the horse, or maybe the sleigh went before the reindeer, or maybe the Divine Infant went out with the dishwater from the Christmas feasting! I hope that's not the case.
Unwrapping the gift of redemption
Start rejoicing now! Christmas begins today, and it did not start in October, no matter what the stores tell you. It lasts an octave. Eight full days. So, enjoy the real Christmas season. The time is here. 'Tis the crowning of the year.
Now that all the fuss is over, maybe you'll be able to concentrate on the meaning of the redemption and the true meaning of Christmas. The babe was born in Bethlehem! The gift of man's redemption will be slowly unwrapped for us throughout this entire liturgical year.
Adveniat regnum tuum. May his kingdom come. Remember though, your gift this Christmas is a true understanding in your heart that his kingdom is already here. Blessed Christmas.
