Tuesday, December 21, 2021
Zephaniah 3:14-18a;
Psalm 33:1-5, 20-22;
Luke 1: 39-45
In our readings today, we are called to rejoice and give thanks. I am sure this is to be done unreservedly, unconditionally, and certainly, unbegrudgingly, no matter what the circumstances in which we find ourselves. And yet, our hearts still hold the pain. I do not believe this is a betrayal or a misinterpretation of God’s word. There is always grief present…we rejoice and yet…we have lost…health, livelihood, loved ones…and yet we give thanks… We rejoice, we celebrate and yet…we hold in our hearts simultaneously the suffering and grief for those who are grieving. We rejoice, give thanks, and yet… we know that others somewhere are suffering at a level we cannot even imagine. We do not ignore that pain in ourselves and in others; we hold it all in our hearts as we rejoice anyway and thank God that He gives us this gift of joy and gratitude in celebration and in suffering. God is always with us in Christ, through Christ, in faith, and Christmas reminds us of this.
I pray, trusting that as we rejoice, God is better able to heal our wounds and those of the world because we chose to give thanks and to rejoice anyway within the pain.
Nancy Scott
