Sunday December 13 Advent week 3
The Scripture ~ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for see— I bring you good news of great joy for all people.” Luke 2:10
The Spiritual Focus ~ Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day. Henri J.M. Nouwen
The Devotion ~ When angels appear in scripture they are usually bringing a message from God, in fact angels are often referred to as the “messengers.” The messages they bring are rather consistent in what they say, telling the people they visit to not be afraid. In our scripture for today we have the added proclamation, the good news is of great joy …for all people, God is getting ready to act. Don’t be afraid, good news, great joy, for all people, is a message we could hear over and over again, not only during Advent. We benefit in being reminded, as Henri Nouwen says, to choose joy because hearing it isn’t the same as choosing it. We must practice choosing joy every day. We embody joy when we choose to find the joy in life rather than alternative stories.
In yoga each asana provides us a choice, an opportunity to focus on what we feel or experience. If we note pain, we know to modify. If we give equal weight to where the asana serves us and where we struggle, we can make the choice to experience the joy in the asana at least as much as we notice our struggle.
God’s promise of joy is already available and while it is hard to find joy in some situations, we trust God to faithful God’s promise, a promise that is for all people.
A promise fulfilled in Emmanuel, God with us.
Inhale ~ God is
Exhale ~ With us
