December 12, 2021

 Mary is startled – Read the story in Luke 1:26-38

 Joy is…

The third Sunday of Advent highlights the theme of joy.  But when God’s messenger Gabriel arrived in Nazareth and dropped in at the home of Joseph and Mary, she was startled when she heard the voice say “Greetings, you who are highly favored!  The Lord is with you.”  But Gabriel sensed Mary’s feelings, and said, “Do not be afraid, Mary.”  And then went on to say, “You have found favor with God.  You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.

By the time Gabriel has described the role in life that this son will have; and how the Holy Spirit will be God’s agent of her conception so that “the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God,” Mary can declare, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.”  Then Gabriel left.  

You could read further in this text from Luke to discover the comfort and joy that the expectant mothers, Mary and Elizabeth, experience together; and also, Mary’s song that begins with these joyful words: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior...”

When I began to prepare this devotional, I opened a hymnal to a section with hymns that fall under the themes of “JOY LOVE PEACE,” and I found myself singing aloud without a mask while sitting at my computer!   You might recall the Singing Mission Sisters, and Sister Miriam Therese Winter who would play her guitar as she sang, “I saw raindrops on my window, Joy is like the rain. Laughter runs across my pane, slips away and comes again, Joy is like the rain.”  And she sings on in order to conclude that “Joy is like a cloud; Joy is tried by storm;” and then she reminds us: “I saw raindrops on the river, Joy is like the rain.  Bit by bit the river grows, ‘til all at once it overflows.  Joy is like the rain.”

On the next page I found a hymn without a known author, but James McGranahan, who undoubtedly was familiar with the voice of a majestic pipe organ, provided a powerful tune which recalls three of the four opening words in the chorus, which, if you choose, you can sing with me:

Now none but Christ can satisfy, None other name for me;

There’s love and life and lasting joy, Lord Jesus, found in Thee.

Let me conclude by noting that amongst the qualities that are listed as “fruit of the Spirit” in Galatians 5:22-23a, the second is JOY.  

 Prayer: May the joy of the Lord be yours today.  Amen.

 Ron Baxter is the husband of Sharon, and one who rejoices greatly in the Lord.