Good afternoon! It has been such a privilege walking with you on this journey of Advent devotionals. I am bringing you a conclusion today, centered on the joy of the good news that has come. On behalf of TCU Office of Religious & Spiritual Life, we wish you a very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year. –Rev. Katherine Wright
Luke 2:8-14
Now in that same region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”
Joy doesn’t simply mean “happiness.” To me, to be happy is something temporary. Are you happy with your test results? Are you happy with the presents you giving this year? Are you happy with whatever sports team news that just came out?
Joy comes from much deeper. Joy is something that has the possibility of sustaining you through all the ups and downs this life has to offer. Psalm 30 tells us that even in the depths of a tear-filled night, joy comes in the morning with God.
A common reaction for a biblical character who encounter the holy is becoming terrified. I mean, I can’t blame them. A messenger of God right here in front of me? Yeah, I would be scared too. That’s the case for the shepherds when angels come to announce the birth of Jesus. Those shepherds were expecting a dark, quiet field and out of nowhere they are looking at the bright, loud divine presence before them. Assurance comes from the scary, unfamiliar angels above, saying, “I bring you good news of great joy for all the people.”
I imagine you asking me now, “Who’s all ‘the people’?” Well, that’s you, my friend. We have been readying and preparing for weeks. We read together this good news of great joy for all people of God’s holy creation. This message of hope, peace, joy, and love of this season is for you.
I don’t know what might be terrifying to you in your life. For me, in the last few months I moved, started a new job, and am expecting a baby. Yeah, there’s a lot to be terrified about. This message shares with us a moment of worship and celebration; there is good news upon us. It will bring us that great joy that lasts forever and will always come in the morning. We praise God, our creator, for the joy that comes in the morning and praise God for sending his only Son to us. I pray for that sustaining joy for all your days to come.
Let us pray.
Glory to you, oh God, in the highest heaven. We praise you during this Advent time. We listen for your presence with us even when we are terrified. Remind us even in our darkest time, you are the bright light of joy, and your Son is the one we paid our debts. In your name, we pray, amen.