Christmas is a season of holy longing.
Whether we are singing along to “Holly Jolly Christmas” or “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” we are longing for joy.
Whether we are looking forward to lighting an Advent candle at church or seeing a town aglow with little white lights, we are longing for light that shines in darkness.
Whether we are wrapping presents for little ones or volunteering at a soup kitchen, we are longing for gifts of grace.
Whether we are throwing a party for relatives or singing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus, we are longing to celebrate.
Both the commercial and the religious trappings of this season point to a common human longing for love and hope and peace and joy and connection and celebration.
The story of Jesus’ arrival in this world is a story of love that draws near, of grace and truth made real. Jesus’ birth is an invitation for all of our longings to find a home that sustains us and holds us and carries us all year long.
More with Amy Julia:
Holy Disruption
Season of Waiting and Impossibility
S7 E7 | How Advent Resists the Culture Wars with Tish Harrison Warren
Advent Devotional
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