AdventWord Day 15 – “rejoice”
I was bragging about my children one day as I caught up with a friend. Happy for their work and other successes, thrilled to see them growing and stretching as every parent hopes, moving far beyond their upbringing and —
–“Don’t you feel like your real work is done?” my friend asked.
Hmm. Well, maybe not *done* but certainly a moment to rejoice over. And time to allow feelings of satisfaction and relief to wash over me. They married and bought houses and got promoted and traveled for business and made close friends and looked out for each other. They would always be okay even if their environment wasn’t.
Any parent recognizes that this is the season of anticipation culminating in rejoicing.
This season we celebrate the birth of a baby who was really God on Earth. And like God the parent looks upon us as children, we should strive to make God pleased with us by following the Greatest Commandments given us. You know the story of the Pharisee lawyer who is told, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Love God.
Love your neighbors.
These two simple guidelines result in rejoicing here thanks to an easier, less stressful existence, and in God’s kingdom.
Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God , for ever and ever. Amen.
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