December 12, 2020

 Dear Road Church Friends,

 Advent Blessings to you all,

This Sunday we light the Advent Candle of JOY.

The scripture readings are Isaiah 35:1-10 and Matthew 11:2-11.

 Isaiah 35 is a promise made to the disheartened Captive Jews in Babylon, saying that the spiritual desert of discouragement they were in would soon be transformed and they would be free. “The desert shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing.”

Jesus quoted this same verse in Isaiah to John the Baptist when he asked from prison if Jesus really was the Messiah. John saw no evidence that he was. Jesus said, “open your eyes and see the Joy!” 

The readings on this third Sunday of Advent tell us that Christmas Joy is like flowering plants that bloom in the desert. Christmas Joy is a beautiful surprise that springs up when, and where we least expect to find it. It blooms suddenly even in desolate places, where the dusty ground is parched and cracked all year round. But, for a few weeks in the year, barren deserts everywhere are garbed in a splendid beauty, that draw people from around the world to experience Mother Nature’s annual gift of joy to the world.

No one sings Joy To The World better than Mother Nature.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive her king; let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing.

Joy to the earth! the Savior reigns; let all their songs employ; while fields, and floods rocks, hills and plains repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground, he comes to make his blessings flow far as the curse is found.

 There is also a warning in these readings. Although we are surrounded by beauty and many reasons to rejoice, we often miss out on joy because we are blind to it. Advent is a time when our eyes and ears are opened to Joy. It’s surprising where we might find it. Joy and beauty will spring up even in a parched desert landscape.

 Joy to the world, and joy to you all.

 Pastor Norm

December 13, 2020 Road Church service on YouTube: https://fb.watch/2m8uxiWPN3/