Today is cold and very windy, so windy there are weather advisories abounding and some states have had tornadoes taking lives and doing damage. It is our morning to walk and pray in the neighborhood, and so we gather and head out into the streets as we have done so many times before. On this particular day however, I don’t expect to encounter any people out in their yards or on their porches or out walking due to the weather.

And this proved to be true until, as we neared the end of our time outside, we met a couple walking as we were, because as it turns out, their car is in need of repair. We were able to pray with them, give them some local resource information and encourage them. As we all stood in the windy, winter cold, I was warmed by the exchange of hope and caring that we were able to share with these two strangers – well, strangers to us, not to God.

How appropriate that in this season of Advent, we should be about sharing the Good News that Christ has come. Isaiah 52:7 says,

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’ ”

Reminds me of the Christmas carol proclaiming, “Oh tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy!” Which is what the angel said to the shepherds on the night Jesus was born – “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” (Luke 2:10)

The Good News of Christmas is that Jesus came and He is coming again. We rejoice in this Good News as we celebrate His birth even as we wait expectantly for His return. Advent is all about hope – the hope that Jesus brought into the world with His birth and the hope the promise of His return gives to every person.

“Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy. When the Lord returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes. Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord will lay bare His holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.” (Isaiah 52:8-10)

God has comforted – one of the gifts of Advent – comfort. Something I sorely need in troubling times. Something ushered in by the presence of the Christ Child.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

oh tidings of comfort and joy! a song of Advent – how beautiful the feet of the messengers of Advent! Today my friends and I got to be those messengers – what pure joy!

sincerely, Grace Day