• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

The Love that Compels

  • Online Masses
    • Passionist Online Masses and Services
  • 300th Jubilee
    • Opening Mass of the Passionist Jubilee Year
    • Video: 300th Jubilee – English
    • Video: Jubileo Pasionista – Español
    • Jubilee Icon Itinerary
    • Jubilee Resources
    • Jubilee Song
  • Pray
    • Daily Reflections
    • Prayer Request
    • Sunday Homily
    • Passionist Spirituality and Prayer
    • Stations of the Cross
    • Prayer and Seasonal Cards
  • Grow
    • Journey into the Mystery of Christ Crucified
    • Celebrating the Feast of St. Paul of the Cross
    • Subscribe to E-News
    • Passionist Magazine
      • Passionist Magazine, Spring 2020
    • Passionist Ministries
      • Preaching
      • Hispanic Ministry
      • Haiti
      • Parish Life
      • Earth and Spirit Center
      • Education
      • Fr. Cedric Pisegna, CP, Live with Passion!
    • Retreat Centers
    • Passionist Solidarity Network
    • Sacred Heart Monastery
      • History of Sacred Heart Monastery
      • A Day in the Life of Senior Passionists
      • “Pillars” of the Community
  • Join
    • Nicholas Divine, CP, Ordination to the Diaconate
    • Are You Being Called?
    • Discerning Your Call
    • Pray With Us
    • Passionist Vocation Directors
    • Lay Partnerships
  • Connect
    • Find a Passionist
    • Passionist Websites
    • Fr. Cedric Pisegna, CP, Live with Passion!
    • Passionist Alumni Association
      • Reunions
      • 2019 Passionist Alumni Reunion
      • Welcome
      • Letter from the Provincial
        • These Men We Call Our Brothers
      • Mission Statement
      • CrossRoads Bulletin
      • Alumni Enrollment Form
        • Alumni Survey
      • Reunion Photo Gallery
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Monthly Giving
    • Leave a Legacy
      • Giving Matters
      • Ways to Give
      • Donor Relations
      • Testimonials
    • Prayer and Seasonal Cards
    • Privacy Policy Statement
  • Learn
    • Our Founder
    • History
    • The Letters of St. Paul of the Cross
    • The Diary of St. Paul of the Cross
    • Mission and Charism
    • Saints and Blesseds
    • FAQs
    • Find a Passionist
    • STUDIES IN PASSIONIST HISTORY AND SPIRITUALITY
  • Safe Environments

Daily Scripture, December 26, 2016

Scripture:presents-under-tree

Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59
Matthew 10:17-22

Reflection:

With the earlier and earlier onset of Christmas, we easily grow weary of carols on the radio and decorations at home and work. By the time December 26 comes we might already see discarded Christmas trees on the curb or next to dumpsters. Time to move on.

With all the lead time we now take that brings us to Christmas Day, we can lose sight of the fact that the Christmas Season really only begins on Christmas Day. We don’t seem to be eager to celebrate the Nativity of the Lord through to Epiphany and the Feast of the Magi. We’re tired by Christmas Day and choose to focus on the New Year.

I was amused at one Christmas Midnight Mass a few years back when the celebrant wove together into a bizarre narrative the story of Santa Claus and his Reindeer and the Nativity stories of the Gospels. Santa being born in a manger. Angels appearing on a sleigh. He painted all sorts of silly images by melding the two holiday narratives into one.

His point was really well made. The two stories are not the same. The tradition of Santa Claus, now quite devoid of any ties to Saint Nicholas and his generous gifts to the poor and children, has seemingly overtaken the Nativity. The first is about gift giving. The latter is about The Gift. The first is about quickly unwrapping gifts on Christmas Eve or in the morning. The latter is about a Gift that can never really be unwrapped.

On this first day following upon Christmas, perhaps we can gaze upon the Gift and ponder what difference this Gift will make in our lives. Just be still, just be present as the shepherds were. Let’s open our hands and our hearts to receive God’s Gift of Love, the Christ Child. Let’s enjoy this Christmas Season that takes us into the New Year and far beyond.


Robert Hotz was a consultant with American City Bureau, Inc. and  was the Director of
The Passion of Christ: The Love That Compels Campaign for Holy Cross Province.

Footer

Facebook Feed

Support the Passionists

Contact the Passionists

The Passionists of Holy Cross Province
660 Busse Highway | Park Ridge, IL 60068
Tel: 847.518.8844 | Toll-free: 800.295.9048 | Fax: 847.518.0461
Safe Environments | Board Member Portal | Copyright © 2021 | Log in