This morning I am worship leading for the third Sunday of Advent.  "Joy" is the theme as we light the candle and contemplate the coming of Jesus our Saviour 2,000 years ago.  A reading will be prepared for us to share, but I wanted to take some time to do my own contemplating on joy and what it means to me at Christmas.
In light of the historical context of Israel and the little nation known as Judea, life was not abounding in happiness and prosperity for God's people.  Oppression by Rome, economic depression, fear, evil pervaded the area with darkness.  Although perhaps pockets of joy and celebration would be experienced in Jewish communities and homes, each likely sensed an overall sense of gloom.  The people of God were not so "chosen" anymore.  They must have felt forgotten and afflicted.  Hopeless.
Into this scene arrives an angel in a shepherds' field.
"An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were terrified."  (Luke 2:9)
Could this startling unearthly visitation be a good thing?  Was it a divine judgment?
"But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people." (verse 10)
How those shepherds must have needed some good news!  They were likely some of the most oppressed, poverty-stricken and forgotten in society. Who cared about them and their lot in life?
"Today in the city of David a Saviour has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord."  (verse 11)
It seems strange that God's celestial servant would be communicating the most profound theological and prophetic pronouncement ever to nameless shepherds.  How could this impact the world if only sheep-herders knew about the Messiah's arrival?
But the seeds of joy were planted in their hearts and they were stirred to go to Bethlehem and "see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." (verse 15b)  They hurried off and did find the stable with the baby lying in a manger.  It was true!
"When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child...The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God..."  (verses 17 & 20a)
This does not sound like the behaviour of depressed and dejected shepherds; this is the work of excitement, enthusiasm, hope, JOY!  This good news was to be spread!  And I'm sure as they returned to their fields, they weren't quiet in their "glorifying and praising" either!
Can we totally relate to this story?  Are we afflicted with darkness and depression?  Even as believers in Jesus Christ, knowing the story and having received His gift of eternal life, we can lose sight of the simple truth:  Jesus came to save sinners and to deliver us from the evil one.  He has come and defeated death and hell.  For those who are bowing under the weight of sin and discouragement, we may have forgotten that God has already made a way for us to be free!
We can't really know the freedom and release until we have experienced the afflictions.  I've been learning some about this as I've been reading "Streams in the Desert"  to recognize God's work through difficulties and trials.  We truly see the light only when we've know the darkness personally.
But how sweet is that JOY when we receive the wonderful good news of the angel and the shepherds: A Saviour has been born to us; He is Christ the Lord.
"...then you will find your joy in the Lord."  (Isaiah 58:14)