Between Two Advents

In the past week, I attended two different Celebrations of Life for two friends via Zoom.

Both were lovely, God-honoring ceremonies. 

Both women had committed their lives to serving their Lord in another country - one in Costa Rica (age 40), the other in Zimbabwe (age 84). 

Both will be remembered for the joy that overflowed in their lives. 

I was reminded at both celebrations of a quote attributed to St. Augustine:

"We are Easter people and halleluia is our song."

Easter People.

What a thought!

We aren't just Christmas folk; we're more - way more! 

We live in light of a resurrection that sealed the Lord's promise to return again.

What hope!

What joy!

What a difference it should make as we live life between two Advents - 

How should Easter People live? 

It's odd, but the little story that came to mind is found in the gospel of Luke, chapter 1.

After Mary's conversation with the Angel, she traveled to visit her cousin, Elizabeth, in the hill country of Judah. 

She arrives, enters the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth, and greets them.

Immediately, Luke records the rest of this story in verses 41-44. Here's how they read:

When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice, she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy!"

In this whole story, "joy" is a major theme. Elizabeth was filled with joy, and Mary's magnificat that follows is a song of joyful praise, but the one that stands out to me is the joy of the unborn child, John. 

Even before Advent, John rejoiced in Jesus...and, continued to do so throughout his ministry. 

It speaks to our life between two Advents - joyously celebrating the coming (first and second).

Death can't quench it...we're in His Presence with fulness of joy.

Life should amplify it...

Here's the rest of the Augustine of Hippo's quote:

"We are an Easter people and halleluia is our song. Let us sing here and now in this life, even though we are oppressed by various worries and uncertain times, so that we may sing it one day in the world to come, when we are set free from any anxiety that plague us."

We are an Easter people!

Let us leap for joy!

Jesus fulfilled the first Advent.

He will also complete the second.

Bank on it.

Like John, even before He arrives on the scene - get a little leapy in your joy!

Merry Christmas from our house to yours!

I'll join you again in January.