“In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.’” Luke 1:26-28
It always takes me a while to warm up to Christmas music. Not Christmas itself, per se—I love that. But the music. I tend to cringe if I hear Christmas music too early, like in November or even the first of December. I’m good starting about now, with only eight days to go until Christmas, but really, anytime before that I can do without.
What does it mean to prepare for Christmas? Our churches have been doing it since the beginning of Advent, the first Sunday after Thanksgiving. They are preparing by lighting candles, reading Scripture, reciting liturgy, hosting programs, and thinking of others through gifts and generosity. But how did those in Scripture prepare for the coming of the Christ child?
First, God had to send an angel to let people know the Christ was coming. Gabriel the angel is the messenger of the Lord and was sent first to Mary, a virgin pledged to be married to Joseph, who was in the line of David. This was the Mary to whom the angel came and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” The rest of the story has Mary asking some questions; then, when satisfied with those answers, she offers the most beautiful Magnificat—a prayer glorifying God and recognizing her own role in this process.
But it all began with a messenger to tell the message, and a recipient to hear and receive the word.
We have been told the story about the birth of Jesus. Our world distorts Christmas, obviously making it overly secular, but remembering the key meaning—the important message—that God sent his Son Jesus into the world to save the world, and that our role is to receive him as our Savior, is central. Preparing for Christmas means receiving Jesus as Savior, committing our lives to him, devoting our hearts to the Christ, and loving him with every fiber of our being.
With eight days to go, I am in the preparation process—I am praying, reading, anticipating, giving, and celebrating the anticipatory birth of Jesus. I am making room in my own heart for the One who made room for me in his.
Will you join me in doing the same?
“O Lord God, you are good and faithful. Thank you for sending Jesus, for allowing us to celebrate him with joy, for the blessings of our lives, and for the power of your Spirit to save us. Come now, Holy Father, renew our hearts for the Christ. Help us surrender in holiness and to love you more. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen.