Journey to Joy: Comfort

This Sunday’s Advent Wreath candle is often called the “Rejoice Candle” or the “Joy Candle.” Makes sense, doesn’t it, that these Advent days of preparation for the birth of our Saviour would call for rejoicing? Ergo the theme for all the meditations this week: an invitation to “Journey to Joy.”

Today’s “Journey to Joy” offers Comfort. If you know me you’ll understand that the word comfort automatically leads me to think of food-comfort food. And the story of Jesus’ birth offers the soothing comfort we sometimes seek when we sit down to a steaming plate of homemade mac ‘n’ cheese. How comforting, how consoling to visualize the baby Jesus sleeping soundly in Mary’s loving embrace while the shepherds kneel in adoration.

But the comforting good news we await is much more than that! The truth is that all humanity is like grass that withers and fades. Rejoice at the good news: “?the word of our God will stand forever!” (verse 8) That Word took on our flesh and blood that first Christmas. That Word paid double for our sins. Whatever prevented our approach to God has been bulldozed out of the way. In the manger is our God who comes to gather us into his arms and feed us like a shepherd.

Thank you for your comforting Word, O Lord. Amen. — PH