Thought for Today: “The Joy of Christmas”

After learning that she would be giving birth to the Messiah, Mary visits her cousin, Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John the Baptist, and through Mary’s song, known as “Magnificat,” she reveals how she prepared herself for this wonderous event.

First it was with Joy.

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.” (Luke 1:46-47)

Mary response to the news of this first Christmas is joy. Her focus was on God and what He was about to do, not upon her own selfish wants and desires, and this is what brings joy.

What the world is looking for, however, is happiness, not joy. They think that if they give enough presents and receive enough in return, they’ll be happy. They attend one party after another in the attempt to find happiness as well. They become happy because circumstances are positive, but when they are not, their happiness is gone.

But not so with joy.  People can be filled with joy no matter what the circumstances may be, and that’s because joy is found not in what’s happening around us; rather it’s found in our relationship with God.

And so, we should prepare ourselves for Christmas, just as Mary, first in God our Savior.