The holidays have come and gone. After a season of festivity and cherished tradition, the weeks may feel slower. Our homes may feel empty as decorations are put back in bins and wrapping paper is tucked away for next year. But when we embrace this transition as an opportunity to refresh our minds, our spaces, and our intentions, we are not leaving the spirit of the holidays behind. We are letting it give way to Jesus’s mission.

Today’s Gospel reminds us that Christmas does not mark the end of the story. In many ways, it’s the beginning of everything. In our reading, Jesus comes to the Jordan to be baptized by John. The heavens open, and Jesus is revealed as God’s beloved Son. From here, Jesus’s life becomes a witness to healing, restoration, and love in action.

We have read about the miracle of Christmas. Now, we see it give way to mission—and we are invited to share the responsibility to live out that mission in our own lives. In the weeks ahead, how will we respond to suffering? How will we show up for others?

At CMMB, these are the questions that shape our actions each day. Our call to serve with compassion, to stand with communities in need, and to help bring healing where it is most needed never rests.

As we prepared to celebrate the miracle of Christmas at CMMB, our CEO, Mary Beth Powers, shared the following poem by Howard Thurman. These words, alongside our Gospel, inspired today’s reflection.

When the song of the angels is stilled

when the star in the sky is gone

when the kings and princes are home

when the shepherds are back with their flocks

the work of Christmas begins:

to find the lost

to heal the broken

to feed the hungry

to release the prisoner

to rebuild the nations

to bring peace among the people

to make music in the heart.

January 2026 footer.