2023 Advent Guide | Week 4

This season of Christmastide, though, is not about longing and waiting; it’s all about arrival and celebration! Jesus IS here, and His presence IS real, and we are called to celebrate! As our psalmist says, “I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord forever;” Part of celebrating is making known our God and proclaiming who He is in a beautiful way. This is a beautiful season in so many ways. This week, as we celebrate Christmastide, we will also center on His great Love for us. Again, our Psalm declares: “Steadfast love will be built up forever.” Because Jesus has come and is here by the power of His Holy Spirit, we know that true and perfect Love is also here and is established by the life and work of Jesus and His Holy Spirit. We can celebrate the fullness of love that Jesus brought and leaves here with us as we excitedly wait for His return. We celebrate this love because without love, God wouldn’t have written a rescue plan for our souls. Without love, there isn’t a covenant between God and man, just a contract that was egregiously broken, and the sinner would get what he deserves. Without love, Jesus wouldn’t have “endured the cross despising its shame for the joy that was set before Him.” This Christmas, whatever lies ahead this year, stop to celebrate and rejoice in the joy that is here now and celebrate the love and life of Jesus in you and what is ahead for those who believe.

In the various traditions and the merriment of this new season upon us, use your mouth to join the psalmist to “make known God’s faithfulness.” With beauty, intention, design, and creativity, celebrate our Lord and His love for us with your mouths, your foods, your parties, and your gift-giving. His love is abundant and free. Let your approach to others in this season reflect that. After all, we have twelve whole days to celebrate! The systems of the world will want us to get our heads back into the “real world” as soon as Christmas Day finishes up. As much as you can, push against the need to “clean up and move on.” The savior of the world has come- He is HERE. Finally, don’t forget to enter once again into the “Magnum Mysterium…” the “great mystery” of our faith and see Jesus in the arms of Mary in the cave outside Bethlehem. The “mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” poor and in a manger. Wonder in amazement like little children and come and worship with all you have and know this truth once again as we enter into one year closer to His final return in glory! Amen!

“See amid the winter’s snow, born for us on earth below,
see the tender Lamb appears, promised from eternal years!
Hail, thou ever blessed morn, Hail, redemption’s happy dawn,
Sing through all Jerusalem! Christ is born in Bethlehem!”