“My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?” ~ Bob Hope
Many people have said serious things throughout history. But the serious things that seem to be remembered most of all almost always seem to come from comedians. They are usually poking fun at themselves or the world around them. They make us laugh on a regular basis. So, when they say something quite serious, we generally take note of it.
Bob Hope said something very serious. Why do we wait for Christmas to love others? Shouldn’t that be an all-the-time thing to do? Shouldn’t it be done more than on a day or in a season? Of course.
That is one of the reasons, I believe, that the Church gives us Easter and Christmas for an Octave followed by a season. It reminds us that those wonderful feasts are more than just a day. They are extended. They last a week. They last a season. By the end of the season we should have it in our minds that they last all year.
Christmas was this past Monday. For some, Christmas is over. For the Church and its people, it continues throughout the Octave. Don’t pack up Christmas. Don’t live as if it’s over. Instead, celebrate the joy that comes from the birth of Jesus Christ today and every day.
FAITH ACTION: Keep the Christmas spirit alive in your hearts and among your family and friends.