Holy Spirit of God, refresh my Joy in the Lord…

Isaiah 40:1-11 & Psalm 96 & Luke 3:1-6

 
In this Second week of Advent, the relationship between repentance and joy is clearly drawn. The curious figure of John the Baptist dressed in the clothing of animals and subsisting desert-style on locusts, is not only unique but noteworthy.  What on earth was he proclaiming !? John proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as God’s way of preparing straight paths and rough ways made smooth, in preparation for the coming of “Emmanuel” – God with us- who is Christ Jesus – God saves. How can human response to the coming of Jesus Emmanuel be anything but Joy? How can we as Christians anticipate the feast of the Nativity, merely focused on the presents and plans of the Christmas season? When we do so, we rob ourselves of hearing again the song of the angels that erupted when the Redeemer of the world was born of Mary, cared for by Joseph and started on his journey to the Cross and the Resurrection. Perhaps the only task of this season of Advent is to repent of our sins (that is, clean out the garbage from our souls) to be open to the Joy of the angles and the Glory of God. Will I enter into this season burdened by too many tasks in too short time, or will I live into this Advent time of waiting, cleaning up my heart, mind and soul to be open to a refreshment of the Joy in of all creation in the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, Redeemer of humanity?  Holy Spirit of God, refresh my Joy in the Lord.
 
The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; … Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure.  (Psalm 16:5,9)
 
O Come! O Come! Emmanuel…
… Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you…
12th Century Latin Advent hymn
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
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