Welcome to my musings on this third Sunday of Advent.
Today we're discussing ...

Joy.

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Psalm 30:5b, KJV

Four hundred years of silence. Bloody years. Violent years. Many a mother wept for their children and many sons sacrificed their lives. A score of generations living, dying ... all while prophecy ceased.

Yet, within those years, a miracle occured. Tired of Greek rule and the persecution they suffered, the Jewish people fought back, finally retaking the temple in Jerusalem. But they had only enough oil to light the temple for one night. Until one night turned into two. Then three. Four. Eight days the oil lasted.

This festival of light is what we now call Hanukkah. Eight days of celebrating the miracle that occurred in December 165 BCE. But that spark of hope was brief. The Greeks retook Jerusalem. And the Jewish people returned to praying for a King to save them.

And into that darkness, in a small town of Bethlehem, the King they prayed for was born. Not in Herod's palace, but in a home for animals. Instead of royal heralds, an angelic one declared His birth to shepherds. Outcasts. The lowliest of society.

"Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:8-9, kjv)

Last week, we talked about how fear and peace are not opposites, but from this verse, I would posit that fear and joy are. For how can we be afraid when there is good news? Yes, weeping, fear, and silence may burden us through the darkest of nights ... but with morning comes good tidings of great joy.

And what is that joyful message? That a Savior has finally arrived. The King has come. Lying in a manger. Dying on a cross. Rising again to save us, redeem us, rescue us from the darkness. What joy that brings! What good news!

So .. if you are in that season of darkness. If the silence weighs heavy. Know that morning is coming. Hold on just a little bit longer. Let that smidgen of light turn into one day, two, three ... until the silence is broken and morning has dawned.

 Until we can rejoice with the angelic choir: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

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