On the third day after Christmas, my warm fuzzy feelings are often brought up short by the remembrance of the Holy Innocents. As Matthew 2:16 says: “When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men.”
From the beginning salvation has come at a cost. Whether it is the lives of the little ones around the world who suffer still or our own self denial, there is a need to remember how great a cost is required of those who would follow the Christ.
Our song tells us On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.
These rather ordinary birds are considered to be the three virtues listed in I Corinthians 13: Faith, Hope, and Love (Charity). Isn’t it interesting that these three things do require self-sacrifice.
There is a lovely video at http://www.interviewwithgod.com/lovemovie/index.htm. With beautiful images it goes through I Cor. 13 slowly enough that you have to really think about the words. I was struck by how nothing matters without Love. If we don’t act out of self-giving love, then it is empty show. Pretty powerful!
Not only that, but “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” I Cor. 13:4-7
It’s true we can’t perfectly love all the time, but it is a goal to aim for each day in each interaction. The collect/prayer for today (First Sunday after Christmas) gives us a way to move forward in love, reminded that it is only in the Light of God that we can hope to achieve anything.
Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
There are still innocent children (and adults) in the world who suffer under tyranny of some government or some greedy company or rapacious person. Pray for guidance to learn what you could do to ease their pain. How can the Love of God shine more in your life today?
Tomorrow is the Fourth Day of Christmas.
