When does Christmas end? For many in the secular world, Christmas ends on Dec. 26. But in the Church the celebration is just beginning. We have the Octave of Christmas culminating with the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Then there are the Twelve Days of Christmas leading up to Epiphany. Liturgically, the last day of the Christmas season is the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, after which begins Ordinary Time, although some parts of the world continue to observe Christmas right up until the Feast of the Presentation on Feb. 2.
I recently posted an article at Word on Fire titled “How Does a Christian Respond in Time of Social Crisis?” I was encouraged by the reactions and replies, but a number of readers asked if I could more clearly define and articulate the distinction between activism and Christian action, a topic that is multifaceted and perennial, stemming back to the early Church and still relevant today.