Epiphany ~ To the World

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Epiphany: 6 January: To the World

Adoration of the Magi

Twelve Days ~ Day 12 - Humility

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 12: 5 January: Humility

The evening of 5 January is also Twelfth Night.

Second Sunday After Christmas ~ Power to Become

The Twelve Days of Christmas
2nd Sunday after Christmas Day

The Power to Become

The age old question that children have had to answer for centuries, no doubt.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Actually, I would guess that in earlier generations the question didn't have to be asked. Whatever it was your father or mother did, that's what you would be when you grew up. Choices were few and far between. Actually there were fewer choices for women. Even if you weren't to become the same as your parent, they often set the expectations you were going to meet.

In the Gospel for this 2nd Sunday of Christmas we hear Jesus talk about HIS desire for us when we "grow up":

John 1:12-14: But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

I just realized that what Jesus did was take us back to an even earlier generation than his. He takes us back to the Garden when we were, by nature, the children of God. "So what are you going to be when you grow up," Jesus asks?

"Go ask your heavenly parent," is the answer. "Why be anything other than what your parent in heaven is? Be a child of God. Live like a child of God."

And Jesus spends the rest of his life showing us what that means.

Twelve Days ~ Day 11 - Learning

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 11: 4 January: Learning

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American saint.

Twelve Days ~ Day 10 ~ In Jesus' Name

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 10: 3 January: In Jesus' Name

Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus.

Twelve Days ~ Day 9 ~ Community

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 9: 2 January: Community

St. Basil the Great

Twelve Days ~ Day 8 - A Clean Start

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 8: 1 January: A Clean Start

New Year's Day

Twelve Days ~ Day 7 ~ Reflection

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 7: 31 December: Reflection

New Year's Eve

Twelve Days ~ Day 6 ~ The Least and the Lost

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 6: 30 December: The least and the lost

St Egwin of Worcester.

Twelve Days ~ Day 5 ~ Integrity

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 5: 29 December: Integrity

St. Thomas Becket

Sunday After Christmas ~ Family

The Twelve Days of Christmas
Sunday after Christmas Day: Family
Feast of the Holy Family

Twelve Days ~ Day 4 ~ The Innocents

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 4: 28 December: The Innocents

Feast of the Holy Innocents

Twelve Days ~ Day 3 ~ Proclamation

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 3: 27 December: Kerygma (Proclamation)

St. John the Evangelist and Apostle.

Twelve Days ~ Day 2 ~ Sacrifice

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 2: 26 December: Sacrifice

St. Stephen, Boxing Day, Wren Day.

Twelve Days ~ Day 1 ~ Incarnation

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 1: 25 December: The Incarnation

Christmas Day

We have just finished the 26 days of Advent. The Twelve Days of Christmas, in spite of what some commercial and other people say begins with today. So, to add 13 days (including Epiphany) to the series, I will be posting a picture a day on the Twelve Days of Christmas. I have chosen each picture to illustrate (or contrast with) the theme. Pray and meditate on the themes as a way of deepening your spirituality.