When I was asked to write an advent message on joy, my wife, Marybeth, reminded me in her soft and gentle voice of the often quoted acronym: Jesus. Others. You.
Truth be known, I was not feeling joyful and I was already consumed with the travails of the upcoming holiday season. But these simple yet impactful words, in less than a blink of my eye, touched my heart. Almost instantly, I recentered my priorities on how I was to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – but not as the world would want, but how God would want. Not by the gifts we give each other, but by God’s ultimate gift to us.
“God so loved the world that HE gave us HIS one and only Son that whoever believes in HIM shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16) God’s ultimate gift is HIS only begotten Son and through HIM eternal life. The gift of the Holy Spirit in us to all those who believe in Jesus Christ.
The three Magi, also known as shepherds and wisemen, traveled from a long distance to see this gift from God. They were called by God’s Angels “to go to Bethlehem and see the thing that has come to pass which the Lord made known to us” (Luke 2:15).
After seeing Jesus, “they fell down and worshipped HIM” (Mathew 2:11). Afterwards, they “returned (to a far-off country) glorifying and praising God for all things they heard and seen as it was told to them” (Luke 2:20).
What then is the JOY that God would want for us? It is the same joy we felt when we accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. And it is the joy we feel when glorifying, praising and thanking God for fulfilling His promise of His Son, Jesus, given to us. And it is the Joy we feel when we share the good news with others. A gift that you can pass on from generation to generation, a gift that never ends. Merry Christmas and blessings to all.
Author:
Timothy S. Sotos
President, PBA Board of Trustees