Our theme this Advent is “joy!” We are reflecting on joy in worship, in music and in study. Christmas lights and decorations, excitement of children, anticipation of various celebrations, and feasts for our senses at every turn will make December a joyful month for sure! We make preparations for it, we anticipate it, we wait for it.  

In spite of all of our preparations and hopes for joy, we often settle for glimpses of joy and wonder if that is as good as it gets. We are too immersed in the mundane, ordinary, everyday circumstances of life to see anything except what is right before us and that doesn’t seem like joy. Are we missing something? 

Circumstances were difficult and far from perfect for Mary, Joseph, Zechariah and Elizabeth. They were surely in survival mode much of the time. Yet, they chose to respond with joy. They believed they were chosen to a part of the fulfillment of the ancient prophecy for a Messiah to come and redeem God’s people, but they had no idea what that would look like. God did! And they trusted in God. Can you imagine God’s joy in surprising these faithful people to be a part of his redemptive plan? They believed in and responded to God’s joyful gift with joy!

Joy is truly a gift of Christmas, and like those closest in time and place to the Christmas story, we can choose joy! Unlike those in the Christmas story, we know what God’s redemptive plan looks like for us through Jesus. God so loved the world that he gave us joy!

Joy in our hearts is the gift of Christmas, the gift which life’s circumstances cannot alter. Christmas joy is the abiding gift and presence of Christ, our Savior! This Christmas let’s receive and share this as the greatest gift.

God, our Savior, help us to look beyond our circumstances to see joy as the greatest gift this Christmas!