Third Sunday in Advent - Joy

The Spirit of Christmas is a Spirit of Joy and is the focus for us today on the third Sunday in Advent.  It is rightly spoken of as the Joy-bringer or the Life-bringer reminding us of newness of life that comes to us, not just when the Christ Child is welcomed into the life of a believer, but by the renewing joy that is promised daily by the ever present joy-bringer

When young Mary was visited by the Angel Gabriel and it was announced that she would bear the child who would be the Son of God, her response was a song of joy to the Lord which begins, ‘My soul praises the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour’.  Mary’s song, referred to as The Magnificat declares forcibly the greatness of God and the joy there is in finding him.  The song ends by affirming that ’this promise is to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever’

In the song Deck the Halls we sing, ’Tis the season to be jolly, fah la la la la la la la la’ and we conjure up in our mind pictures of people with happy faces having a happy time.  And where there are people who frown on it all we are quick to call them kill-joys who mumble 'Bah humbug' 

 
Christmas is special when we recognise that at the heart of it is the Spirit of God coming to man with unspeakable joy.  May we experience again the miracle of joy incarnate and be prompted to sing of our joy just like Mary.  In fact, read the lyrics of her song now for yourself and sense the joy it portrays

 Read:

Luke 1: 26-38