Day 359

Zechariah 8:1-23; Revelation 16:1-21; Psalm 144:1-15; Proverbs 30:29-31

TODAY IS CHRISTMAS. As billions of people throughout the world celebrate the arrival of the baby Jesus, we probably find ourselves with warm hearts, full bellies, and no shortage of crinkled wrapping paper. Our hearths (and lawns) may be adorned with scenes of the nativity, and joy is all around us. Even still, we may experience a deep sense of longing within. This can seem strange, given the merriment and happiness that we genuinely feel. We may find it confusing to sense that something is still missing from an otherwise lovely day of rejoicing.

What is that sense of longing about?

Our reading from Revelation today discussed seven angels pouring out seven bowls of God’s wrath. The destruction wrought on the earth was staggering. Hard to even fathom, honestly. Hardly Christmassy —but maybe it gives us an explanation for this sense of longing.

Before the arrival of Jesus, people had long been anticipating and yearning for a deliverer. It was woven together with their own deep sense that something was missing —that things were not as they should be —and was part of their apocalyptic worldview. We’ve discussed this many times, and we’re seeing it very clearly in Revelation. Some of us observe the season of Advent because we find ourselves still with the same longing.

What we are reading of in Revelation is the ultimate destruction of every evil force set against this baby Jesus —this child who is the King of Kings. This is not something we should shudder in fear about. In order for things to be as they should be, evil must be utterly annihilated. We are reading about the fulfillment of this longing —the return of perfect shalom.

If you feel a little low sometime today, it’s normal. Things are not perfectly as they should be. But we’re celebrating the way they will one day be, forever. And with that light in our hearts, may we carry forward the spirit of Christmas, bringing light, life, and Good News to all.

Merry Christmas.

BENEDICTION:

May there be no enemy breaking through our walls, no going into captivity, no cries of alarm in our town squares. Yes, joyful are those who live like this! Joyful indeed are those whose God is the LORD.