We celebrated Epiphany this past weekend on January 2, the Sunday closest to the traditional date for Epiphany, January 6. Yesterday we completed a Night Prayer series on the Twelve Days of Christmas (which lead up to January 6) - but the Christmas season still isn't complete: on the church calendar it extends to and includes the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord, this year on Sunday, January 9.
Although the season ends this coming Sunday, the WORK of Christmas (which never ends) is just beginning! In that spirit, I offer you this poem traced back to Howard Thurman. Among a variety of interpretations online, here's my take on Thurman's words. Let's pray...
When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the shepherds are back with their flocks,
When family and friends have gone home,
When the tree's been taken down,
When we're back on our regular schedules,
THEN the work of Christmas begins:
To welcome the refugee
To set captives free,
To embrace the excluded,
To tear down walls,
To forgive the offender,
To build bridges
To reverence life in all its forms,
To share our gifts,
To spread the wealth,
To work for justice,
To make peace,
And to bring Christ's light
to the world…
Help us, Lord,
to "keep the season,"
to keep alive in word and deed:
the spirit of the Child born in Bethlehem;
the joy of finding Christ, our Lord and Savior;
the peace he brought in being born among us;
and the work that now is ours
in following his footsteps with our own...
Help us remember, Lord,
that Christmas is never over,
that the work of Christmas
is the work of Jesus, work now ours,
365 days a year...
Protect us, Lord while we're awake
and watch over us while we sleep
that awake, we might keep watch with you
and asleep, rest in your peace...
Amen.
Christmas Every Day by Unspoken
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