On the 5th day of Christmas...

Some church traditions honor St. Thomas Becket on this day. To be honest, I have read a few web sources about him and can't seem to really understand why the church honors him...so, on that note, today we will discuss inhabiting the Twelve Days of Christmas with self-giving love. Once again, from Living the Christian Year: 

"God emptied himself and entered the world for us. We are to have the same mindset and demonstrate the same love (Phil 2). The lead-up to Christmas prompts many good works- clothing for the homeless, gifts for children of prisoners, visits to the elderly, dollars in the Salvation Army kettle- but the deeds fall of conspicuously after December 25. How fitting for us to choose a concrete means to embody Christ's compassion during these twelve days. Serving the poor, working for justice and preserving the environment should not be symbolic gestures or rhetorical sentiments in a month of heightened good will; they should be part of our ongoing pattern of life...

...This is a season of wonder: the Highest gave up glory to be born of the lowly, the Logos and Light became body and blood, the government of God began in a barn, and the angels of heaven sang the hope of all humanity. Wonder fills us with joy and moves us to self-giving love, for wonder is the posture of the humble, the grateful. As Oscar Romero, the martyred archbishop of El Salvador taught,  Without poverty of spirit, there can be no abundance of God."

How will give of yourself, to show love to another- today, tomorrow and in the New Year?