This is the first week of Advent, the time leading up to the celebration of Christmas, when we take time to remember Christ Jesus. What is Advent, exactly? What does it mean? Advent comes from the Latin word advenio, which means arrival or coming. Advent is a period of around four weeks that we set aside to remind ourselves of the imminent second coming of Jesus.
In my home growing up, my parents always had all sorts of little traditions that we would do every year during advent. We would light advent candles at dinner every night - I remember that my siblings and I would always fight over who got to light them and blow them out. But we had other traditions, too, ones that didn't cause squabbles over the dinner table. Like how we would read the Bible every evening together as a family, to remind us of who Jesus is and what He did for us. Or how we would pray, also as a family, every night before bedtime, thanking God for who He is.
So, in the spirit of Advent, I went to Luke today and re-read for the millionth time the story of the birth of Jesus. It never fails to give me chills. There's something about this story - the mystery, the romance, the danger, the singularity, the supernatural elements - that makes it one of my favorite stories in the Bible, ever.
Every time I read this story, I can almost hear the choir of angels singing, their pure, crystal voices serenading the lonely shepherds and scattered sheep. I can sense the stress when Joseph and Mary are desperately trying to find a place to stay in Bethlehem. I can feel the wonder in the young couple's eyes when they first lay eyes on their precious miracle child, Jesus.
Christmas is a beautiful time of year. But, throughout the hustle and bustle of decorating and shopping and shoveling snow and seeing family and friends, we must remember why we celebrate Christmas in the first place. It's not for the trees we put up in our homes. It's not for the presents we pile beneath it. It's not for the hot chocolate, or spiced cider, or snow angels, or holly berries, or gingerbread cookies, or even for the chance to spend time with people we love. It's all because of that tiny bundle of life, lying in a manger in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago. Goodness, I'm so grateful for that tiny little baby.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
In my home growing up, my parents always had all sorts of little traditions that we would do every year during advent. We would light advent candles at dinner every night - I remember that my siblings and I would always fight over who got to light them and blow them out. But we had other traditions, too, ones that didn't cause squabbles over the dinner table. Like how we would read the Bible every evening together as a family, to remind us of who Jesus is and what He did for us. Or how we would pray, also as a family, every night before bedtime, thanking God for who He is.
So, in the spirit of Advent, I went to Luke today and re-read for the millionth time the story of the birth of Jesus. It never fails to give me chills. There's something about this story - the mystery, the romance, the danger, the singularity, the supernatural elements - that makes it one of my favorite stories in the Bible, ever.
Every time I read this story, I can almost hear the choir of angels singing, their pure, crystal voices serenading the lonely shepherds and scattered sheep. I can sense the stress when Joseph and Mary are desperately trying to find a place to stay in Bethlehem. I can feel the wonder in the young couple's eyes when they first lay eyes on their precious miracle child, Jesus.
Christmas is a beautiful time of year. But, throughout the hustle and bustle of decorating and shopping and shoveling snow and seeing family and friends, we must remember why we celebrate Christmas in the first place. It's not for the trees we put up in our homes. It's not for the presents we pile beneath it. It's not for the hot chocolate, or spiced cider, or snow angels, or holly berries, or gingerbread cookies, or even for the chance to spend time with people we love. It's all because of that tiny bundle of life, lying in a manger in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago. Goodness, I'm so grateful for that tiny little baby.
Luke 2:1-21
The Birth of Jesus
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
If only everyone could take the time to read The Story, and take a few minutes every day to give thanks for this wonderful, precious gift that is Jesus. No better time to reflect than Advent, and we all need to spread the word to our friends, neighbors, and colleagues...
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