With the hustle and bustle of commercial Christmas behind us, I’m (Alisha) thoroughly enjoying the deep exhale of the twelve days of Christmas: that magical pause between Christmas on December 25 and Epiphany on January 6. No, I’m not referring to the classic Christmas carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas” (made famous by John Denver and the Muppets) because let’s face it, if my true love gifted me 184 birds, we’d need to have a serious DTR (define-the-relationship discussion). 

No, for our family, the twelve days of Christmas (Christmastide) is a time to slow down, open our table, and spend hours in fellowship with one another. In breaking bread with intentional community, we laugh, play games and feast. But we also take pause to reflect on the disciples who came before us and the great impact they had on propelling the cause of Christ. Won’t you join us at our table for the next five feasts?

1. Feast of Saint John 

On Friday, December 27, we celebrate the third day of Christmastide and honor the feast of Saint John, apostle and evangelist. 

In his extreme old age, John visited the churches of Asia. As he was too weak to preach to the people, he would be carried to the assemblies and, with great difficulty, say just these words: “My dear children, love one another.”

Today, we pray: Teach us, Creator, to more fully understand the two commands your son taught us to be the greatest — to love you and to love our neighbors. As this is where our faith hangs, never let us lose sight of this. Amen. 

2. Feast of the Holy Innocents

On Saturday, December 28, we pause on the fourth day of Christmastide for the feast of the Holy Innocents – the small children in the neighborhood of Bethlehem put to death by Herod.

From even before his birth, Christ was set in great contrast to that of the prevailing empire. Our Christmas joy is tempered today by a feeling of sadness as we take a moment of silence for all the casualties suffered as a result of our trust in anything other than the empire of God.

Today, we pray: Almighty Creator, please help us to always care for the children over earthly empires. Amen.

3. Remembrance of Saint Thomas Becket

On Sunday, December 29, we observe the fifth day of Christmastide with the remembering of Saint Thomas Becket, bishop and martyr.

Once the most venerated person in European Christendom, Becket went from being a submissive courtier to being the chancellor to the King . . . against whom he fearlessly defended the rights of the church. His actions resulted in his assassination by the king’s agents. His final words, as he unbarred the door to his church: “The house of God may not be defended like a fortress. I gladly face death for the Church of God.”

Today we pray: Gracious God: now, more than ever, we must follow in Becket’s example of speaking truth to power, recognizing the objectives of empire and God’s kingdom seldom align, regardless of our own political leanings. Guide us on your path. Amen.

4. Feast of the Holy Family

On Monday, December 30, we celebrate the sixth day of Christmastide with the feast of the Holy Family: Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

This day was initially declared to instill into Christian families the faithful love and the devoted attachment that characterize the family of Nazareth. This day also reminds us of a challenging and inspiring aspect of God’s character, which Saint Bernard of Clairvaux described: “God, to whom angels submit themselves and who principalities and powers obey, was subject to Mary; and not only to Mary but Joseph also for Mary’s sake […] God obeyed a human creature; this is humility without precedent. A human creature commands God; it is sublime beyond measure.”

Today we pray: God, please grant us humility in honor of you, today and always. Amen.

5.  Honoring Mary

On Tuesday, December 31, on this eighth day of Christmastide, we honor Jesus’ mother, Mary.

Honoring Mary at this time was first celebrated in the West during the seventh century. A connection has emerged since then of honoring Mary’s birthing of the Prince of Peace with the New Year and a time reserved for intense prayer for peace. As Mary brought peace into the world, and in her Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55), she cried for justice. This year we may do the same.

Today we pray: Mighty Creator, teach us how to make the peace we long to know. Open our eyes to the sacredness of human life, the dignity of all people and our connection to nature. Give us voices and lives that denounce the injustices that trouble the conscience of humanity and threaten peace. Amen.

In choosing intentionality in Christmastide, may you and your own family find peace and solace at the table, cradled by the loving arms of Christ, energizing you into 2025 with renewed vigor to take up his cause of peace, justice, and love.