Joy to the Heart of God
The coming of joy is one of the great claims of the Christmas story. The baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaps for joy when the Virgin mother draws near. The angel brings the shepherds a message of great joy to all the people. The Wise Men “rejoice exceedingly with great joy” when at last they arrive in Bethlehem. “Joy to the world,” we will sing at both services on Christmas Eve. Surely joy broke into our world when the Son, refusing to cling to his royal prerogatives, emptied himself and took on human form (Philippians 2:6-8).
I wonder if there is a way in our celebration of “joy came down” that we can join the angels’ song and, like an antiphonal choir, make our voices heard in heaven’s throne room.