The Twelve Days of Christmas: The Fifth Day

Reflecting on The First Sunday after Christmas Day: Three Days After Sunday (Year C)

Scripture

Psalter: Psalm 147:12-20

Old Testament: 1 Chronicles 28:1-10

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 3:10-17

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Prayer

O God, you spoke your word and revealed your good news in Jesus, the Christ. Fill all creation with that word again, so that by proclaiming your joyful promises to all nations and singing of your glorious hope to all peoples, we may become one living body, your incarnate presence on the earth. Amen.

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Reflection

The Fifth Day of Christmas is December 29th. The five golden rings symbolize the Pentateuch, which are the first five books of the Old Testament also referred to as the Law of Moses—Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

December 29th is the feast of Thomas Becket. On this day in 1170 Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, was assassinated on the orders of King Henry II for refusing to give the crown authority over the church. Not too long after his death, Pope Alexander III made Becket a saint.

Two of Becket’s more memorable quotes are:

Remember the sufferings of Christ, the storms that were weathered... the crown that came from those sufferings which gave new radiance to the faith... All saints give testimony to the truth that without real effort, no one ever wins the crown.

Many are needed to plant and water what has been planted now that the faith has spread so far and there are so many people... No matter who plants or waters, God gives no harvest unless what is planted is the faith of Peter and unless he agrees to his teachings.

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