Sunday After Christmas

Isaiah 61
Luke 2:15–21

Beyond the Tinsel

Holding a newborn in one’s arms is such a fragile, precious moment. Watching and listening to each breath, each tiny snuffling sound, is a profound experience, full of wonder and hope for the future. It is always a privilege to hold or gaze upona newborn child—a miracle of new life. No wonder the Gospel reading depicts Mother Mary “pondering all these things in her heart” as she looked upon her newborn son.  

I wonder what emotions you felt on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning this year—or whenever you celebrated Christmas? Was there a moment of awe and wonder? Perhaps you were moved when your favourite carol was sung, or when your Christmas tree lights were switched on. Maybe there was a special, defining moment that felt hushed and holy: “Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning”. A feel-good moment, perhaps. And we are so grateful for those rich emotions and experiences if we’ve had them.  

But that warm, special feeling is only one side of Christmas, isn’t it? The other side can lie in disappointment. Perhaps a family argument spoiled the day, or the meal didn’t turn out quite as planned. Or, more seriously, if a loved one passed away or became seriously ill during this period, the pain can feel amplified. Our list of Christmas flops or disasters might be long and painful. Often, the pressure to have a perfect Christmas—and the perception that others are having one—makes things feel worse.  

Bittersweet realities of Christmas 

Interestingly, the Church calendar acknowledges this bittersweet reality with the festivals it observes immediately after Christmas Day. These events strike a sombre note, almost as if granting permission for an imperfect Christmas.  

The Feast of St Stephen (26th December) honours the first Christian martyr, stoned to death for his faith. St Stephen is remembered for his charity and forgiveness, even praying for his persecutors as he died. This day, coinciding with Boxing Day, traditionally reflects a spirit of giving to the poor, in line with St Stephen’s compassion.  

The Feast of Holy Innocents (28th December) commemorates the massacre of young boys in Bethlehem, ordered by King Herod in an attempt to kill the infant Jesus. These children, regarded as the first Christian martyrs, remind us of the cost of Christ’s coming and the need to protect the vulnerable in society.  

These solemn events can seem incongruous amidst the tinsel and twinkling lights. However, they don’t exist to dampen the joy of Christmas but rather to remind us of the profound reality behind the story: a God who comes alongside us in every circumstance, even in the world’s suffering.  

The birth of Jesus is the story of God entering the world as a vulnerable, helpless baby, born in poverty in a war-torn country. Perhaps this vulnerability reflects the very heart of the incarnation.  

Jaded tinsel 

So, when the tinsel on your Christmas tree looks a bit jaded, or when discarded wrapping paper covers the floor, take a moment to reflect on what Mary was thinking in today’s reading.  

The Gospel tells us that, after Jesus’ birth, Mary “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” What might she have been reflecting on? Perhaps her own “yes” to God, the arrival and worship of the shepherds, or the prophecies that surrounded Jesus’ birth. Did she recall passages from Isaiah or Micah and begin to grasp the enormity of her role in God’s plan? We cannot know for sure. But Mary’s quiet pondering helps us appreciate the deep significance of Jesus’ birth—something far greater than festive decorations.  

Aftermath of a Nativity play 

If you’ve ever been in a church after a school nativity play, a carol service, or a Christingle, you’ll know how chaotic it can be. Tinsel from angels, hay from the manger, and candle wax from Christingles seem to spread everywhere! Celebrating Christmas can be messy—but the sparkly tinsel and the abandoned scraps are all part of the same story. The highs and lows, the highlights and disappointments, are inseparable.  

We give thanks that the incarnation—God becoming human and standing alongside us—is at the very heart of His plan. So, however Christmas unfolded for you this year, whether filled with joy or marked by pain, it is still a blessed Christmas. The God who stands with us through it all makes it so.