Isaiah 35:1-10
Psalm 146: 4-9
James 5:7-10
Matthew 11: 2-11
I can recall the excitement of our children for Christmas, as we started to fill the Advent calendar, knowing that the last insert meant Christmas day would be tomorrow. Oh, what Joy in anticipation, gifts yet to be opened and the joy as parents whose gifts of children were from heaven. As children looking forward to what was to come, we too believe with certainty, the coming of our Lord, Jesus the Christ.
The Third Sunday in Advent is called ‘Joy’, a reminder that Jesus prayed that our joy may be complete in Him.
Joy is a feeling; sorrow is the opposite. However, in the bible, the opposite is not sorrow, but sin.
The Israelites are in exile, physically and spiritually. I’m sure they asked and wondered if their lives would ever be different; how did they end up this way? Who will save them, restore them to a good life? The only possible answer is to turn to God: our redeemer, our saviour, our source of true joy.
God wants us to be happy and to be joyful by living a life deeply rooted in Him.
We are given a task to do, strengthen the weak, say “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come and save you”. (Psalm 35: 3-4)
God never gives up on offering the world opportunities to become more like, “thy kingdom come on earth as in heaven.”
May we bring “Joy to the World” as we receive our King; let every heart prepare Him room.
Dot Sweeney