Perhaps you would consider joining me on a new beginning – the work of Christmas – to live the Christmas life – because the hope and life that Christmas promises is simply too good to limit to only twelve short days. Christmas isn’t just a holiday or a celebration, but a gift meant to spread throughout our entire life. And I’m not sure there’s a better reminder of the ongoing significance of Christmas than today’s Gospel. Why? Because John invites us to begin this year by contemplating the very beginnings of Christmas to fill us with hope and joy for the whole year.