And therefore, uncle, though (Christmas) has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!”
— Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
For those who spent the months of December, November, and maybe even October counting down to December 25th, the concept of a twelve-day feast can seem like overkill. If you managed to wait to dive into Christmas everything until the twelve days, guess what? Now it is time to CELEBRATE! We, followers of Christ, believe in feasting, celebrating, and joy.
Now it’s time to eat rich food and baked goods and revel in projects. It’s time to make gingerbread villages, read for hours, and watch multiple movies throughout the day. A time to revel in games and fun, in playing with one another. This is a season of feasting.
Feasting is the opposite of gluttony.
Gluttonous consumption is habitual, going beyond reasonable and necessary consumption. Gluttons do not pause for gratitude, preferring instead instant gratification. It is consumption without thought or consideration of others.
Feasting is celebratory and is not about quantity but abundance.
Abundance is noticing how God has shown up in your life rather than complaining about God’s absence. Abundance is ready and willing to give to others because we trust that everyone deserves good gifts. Abundance is the compassionate nature of behaving generously. When we recognize the many ways in which we have been blessed by God, we are able to share the gifts.
If you, then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
—Luke 11:13, NRSV
The entirety of the Christmas season is the practical side of being grateful. These twelve days present an opportunity to intentionally name our gratitude for physical gifts, for care and comfort, for tidings of good news of great joy. Good news is certainly a welcome reprieve from a relentless barrage of sorrow and suffering that seems to dominate our news.
| “Reflect upon your present blessings — of which every man has many — not on your past. misfortunes, of which all men have some.” —Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Writings |
Practicing Generosity
“There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.”
—Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
There are many ways to live generously without counting dollars and cents. You can share space in your home, time in your day, a listening ear, or a helping hand. Making time for people to be a part of your life is the most generous form of feasting in a relentlessly busy world.
Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.
—1 Peter 4:10, NRSV
I know many people who are always eager to host people in their homes and others who prefer meeting at parks and coffee shops. Some people love preparing food and setting elaborate tables, while others serve pizza on napkins. When any or all of these are done, you are practicing abundance.
Indeed, does not a word surpass a good gift? Both are to be found in a gracious person.
—Sirach 18:17, NRSV
A Christmas card can be more than a trite sentiment. It can be a chance to share a word of personalized encouragement. Take the time to compliment your friends and family on social media. Give someone in your family the gift of kind words.
Twelve Days of Abundant Living
No one needs or wants 144 birds for Christmas, but if we keep our eyes open, we can all notice the many gifts that God has given us over twelve days. It does us good to notice the gifts from heaven and from earth, to say alongside Tiny Tim, “God bless us all, everyone.” This is the way to feast: by blessing those around us with the blessings we have received from God and others.
How will you feast and celebrate during Christmas?
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