Second Sunday of Advent
In today's First Reading from Isaiah we hear the exhortation:
"Go up on to a high mountain,
Zion, herald of glad tidings;
cry out at the top of your voice,
Jerusalem, herald of good news!
Fear not to cry out
and say to the cities of Judah:
Here is your God!
Here comes with power
the Lord GOD"
If asked what Christmas means to them, many people on the street would say things such as family, hot cocoa before a warm crackling fire, Christmas lights and carols. Although not universally celebrated, it isn't just Christians who celebrate Christmas anymore. Now instead of Merry Christmas it is Happy Holidays, instead of Secret Santa (St. Nicholas!) it is Secret Snowflakes, and while the holiday is so family centered the Holy Family is often forgotten.
Christians have pushed back against this trend with "Keep Christ in Christmas" and cheerfully greeting others with "Merry Christmas!" but do those who need to even know what Christmas with Christ means?
This exhortation from Isaiah is for us. We are the heralds of glad tidings, and this good news is not to be hidden away or pushed to the side but cried out at the top of your voice. Sharing the reason for our joy at Christmas can be daunting, but Scripture says fear not to cry out. Why? Because this is good news! Our God, the All Mighty, All Powerful has become the most helpless among us, a little baby. In Advent, we anticipate this great event. God is not only coming among us, He is becoming one of us! And He is coming to unite us to Himself by saving us from sin and separation from God.
This is good news, so don't be afraid to share the true reason for your joy during this season. If someone were to ask you what Christmas means to you, what would you say?
Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ...is to be born!
