Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent
The gospel passage today is one of my favorites. Luke tells about the meeting of Mary and Elizabeth who are both pregnant expecting their first child. At the sound of Mary’s voice, John the Baptist leaps for joy within Elizabeth. John recognizes the coming of Jesus as an occasion for great gladness and celebration. As Christians, if we contemplate and try to fully comprehend the mystery of Christmas, I think we would also be leaping for joy. To know that God loves us beyond our imagination, that He came down and lived among us sharing in our humanity, and He invites us back into relationship to live forever with Him- there truly could be no greater joy than this good news! Once we are convicted of God’s love for us, then the joy of Christ not only causes us to leap with joy, but it sends us forth to share this joy with others.
When I imagine the meeting of Mary and Elizabeth, there is such excitement in the scene. Elizabeth had been barren, and in her old age now is having a child. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, she is able to see Mary not just as her pregnant cousin, but as the mother of her LORD. Elizabeth is able to recognize God’s Hand at work in the miracle of life both within her and within Mary. Mary also is bustling with joy as she travels in haste to see Elizabeth and share the good news. But it is John’s response that is most remarkable. When John and Jesus (both within the womb) meet for the first time, John leaps with joy! Later in life, John will be the person who literally prepares the way for Jesus. John already is realizing the significance of Jesus’ coming even before His birth. John acknowledges that Jesus’ arrival is the fulfillment of God’s promise from the beginning of time. John’s response reminds us that we are called to await Christ’s arrival with the same joy.
With Christmas in just a few days, the busyness of the season can overwhelm any sense of the joy of Christmas. To experience the joy of Christmas it takes time, effort and mostly God’s grace. In the midst of all the “to do’s” we need to make time to remember why we are doing all the things that we take on during this season. If we do not stop and reflect and bring Christ to the center, then the joy of the holiday is lost. We can be caught up in the gifts, lights, parties and festivities and feel happy- but this is a superficial gladness without Christ as the source. It is through prayer and God’s grace that we begin to understand the gift giving is significant because of the Gift- Jesus- who came to us in love. We celebrate with lights as we celebrate Jesus- who is the Light of the World. And the gatherings of family and friends are reminders that Christ comes to bring all people together into one with Him. I wonder what Christmas would be like if every Christian really entered into the spirit of Christmas from this perspective? There may be more empty shopping malls, and maybe there would be fewer people that are stressed by the demands to get it all done. But hopefully, there would be a true “presence” of Christ within our churches, homes, and communities as we welcome Him to our world.
If God knocked on your front door, and told you that He had come to visit you because He loves you so greatly that He wanted to be with you in person- what would you say? What would you do? As Christmas approaches, spend some time imagining what it would be like to welcome Jesus into your home. Imagine the joy that you would experience as you open the door to allow Him in. Like John the Baptist, allow your heart to leap with joy and then just as John did, go forth and share the Good News of Christ’s coming to the world. In some way, share with someone about how you are welcoming Jesus into your Christmas celebrations and let them know about your joy.
And just as the prophet Zephaniah foretold we will know, “The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; He will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, He will sing joyfully because of you, as one sings at festivals.” (Zep 3: 17-18) If we believe in God’s saving love and share this with others then hopefully at some point all people will be leaping for joy because of His birth!
"Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus. By coming to live with us He shares with all mankind Your love and mercy. Through the power of Your Holy Spirit help us to see Jesus’ coming as a sign of Your never ending desire to bring us back to You. May we “leap for joy” as we respond to your love for us, and may we give our lives to You in thanksgiving and praise. We pray this through Christ, our LORD. Amen."
Marylynn Herchline