The Way It Was Meant To Be
Elaine Poproski Download: Audio
Sunday Scripture Readings: Luke 3:7-18 (NRSV)
7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Read more…
Looking to Sunday: Preparing to Hear From God
by Elaine Poproski
Joy. That’s the theme of the third Sunday of Advent. It brings to mind angelic choirs singing their praises at the birth of the Saviour. It brings to mind the saints and majestic creatures of heaven singing around the Throne of the ascended Messiah. It brings to mind the crowds lining the road into Jerusalem, to welcome Jesus on a donkey, crying out Hosanna! Hosanna!
It is right that Christmas should be a time of joy. Jesus Christ, the hope of the nations, the Prince of peace, the incarnation of God Himself is born. The world will never be the same again. And yet, for too many, this Christmas is not going to be a time of joy.
For some of us, this will be our first Christmas without a mother or father or sister or brother or child or spouse. For some it will be the fifteenth or twentieth Christmas without our loved one. For some of us, this will be our last Christmas with someone we love. And for a few of us, this will be our last Christmas. It’s hard to be happy or be joyful when we’re mourning. It’s hard to celebrate when our family is fractured or our child is missing or we’re looking for work. And that’s o.k.
It’s o.k. if you don’t feel like singing Christmas carols this year. It’s o.k. if you don’t want to go to any parties this year. It’s o.k. if you find yourself tearing up while walking through a mall this year. It’s o.k. to not feel the joy of Christmas. After all, the true joy of Christmas isn’t about a single day in the year; it’s about the ultimate victory of life over death; it’s about the day, in the words of Revelation, when “death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more”(21:4).
As you prepare for Sunday, I invite you to read my friend Leanne’s blog post found here. What does Christmas joy mean in the reality of your life?