Low Sunday?

When Christmas is towards the end of the workweek or on Saturday the Sunday after Christmas has a character all of its own. After all the work and hurry and scurry it is a quieter day in Church - congregations tend to be small - but it is also a wonderful day for a little basking in the glory of Jesus birth.

After all, any feast days which usually hang around this time are moved off the Sunday (so St. John the Evangelist moves and in some calendars bumps Holy Innocents a day too) and we are left with the manger with a baby in it and liturgically all we have to do is be there - show up and be there.

Even if we are not able to be in Church we can still take time to "just be there" today - wherever we are. To peek into the new life of Jesus and let it be with us - no running around for at least a few moments.

The Sunday after Easter is properly called Low Sunday but the Sunday after Christmas has some similarities - and some differences. At Easter we are less inclined to sit - it is spring and things are moving - Jesus is risen and that gives us a message and work to do - Easter tends to bring the best of Martha in us - whilst Christmas allows our Mary side to listen and contemplate. (If you want to read Luke's story of the two sisters click here ).

This winter festival of hope and new birth - which we associate in our culture with a real sense of dwelling - fires, food and family - invites us to dwell today, to ponder, to breathe in - enjoy the warmth of God's embrace in a baby in a manger. The world will rush again soon enough and pull us back into it's bustle - the invitation today seems to be to be rather than to do.