This poem/prose piece was sent to me by a friend from ND Vision, Nicole Shirilla.

The Work of Christmas
by Howard Thurman

When the star in the sky is gone,
When the Kings and Princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flocks,
The work of Christmas begins.

To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry
To release to the prisoner,
To teach all the nations,
To bring Christ to all,
To make music in the heart.

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My pastor, (Fr. Rex) gave a good homily yesterday. He used the feat of the Epiphany to talk about the visitors, the Magi. He then talked about Jesus and whether we treat him like a Christmas visitor. Some visitors (family and friends) give great joy when they are coming but it is a lot of work to host them and get the house ready. There is even a sense of relief when they are gone (since you don’t have to have everything “just so” or entertain them).

Fr. Rex reminded us that things aren’t the same once Jesus comes in. He wants to stay. He doesn’t want to be “just” a visitor.

The Christmas season is over. The Incarnation is not. Can people tell…from my life? From yours?