The Third Advent

Already!?! This Christmas season is going amazingly fast. The winter storm that dumped upon us oodles of heavy snow was awesome. Really feels more like Christmas when there is snow falling or piling or causing difficult driving.

Today marks the third day of advent. Light the third candle, which symbolizes and reminds us of the angels and the shepherds and the part they played in the first, original and true Christmas. (The REAL reason for the season is the birth of Christ, contrary to a current anti-Christmas ploy by unbelievers.) The story (as in true life account) of the birth of Christ is non-fiction. It happened.

"And in the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. And the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger."

And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased," (Luke 2:8-14).

Which shall be for all the people...that is all the people of the entire world, past, present, and future!

You and I. Us and them. These and the others. ALL people.

What excellent news the shepherds received that night! And they went and told all they had seen and heard.

Join together as we praise God and give Him glory for His indescribable gift, one that came in a tiny and unexpected package. Looked for, but not in the way He arrived. Willingly and humbly, Mary and Joseph accepted the role God had for them to play.

Yes, another reason to give glory to God. Amen.