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LOOKING FORWARD TO CHRISTMAS

Text: Luke 1
1 November 2020

HAPPIEST TIME OF THE YEAR

What is the happiest time of the year? This is, of course, a very subjective question. And many different answers may be expected! One of the answers that may be put forward would be “Christmas Time.”

THE INFANCY NARRATIVES

The Gospels of Matthew and Luke began with Narratives featuring the Birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Each narrative featured people with a special spirit of joy and gladness.

  1. Mary
  1. Joseph
  1. The Shepherds
  1. Simeon
  1. Anna
  1. The Wise Men

There was every reason to highlight the element of joy! Christmas celebrates the Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ! And that alone ought to be remembered with great joy!

CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR

The celebration of Christmas this year would be quite different. What we would not have:

  1. Christmas Concert
  1. Christmas Service at Shangri La
  1. Christmas Lunch

MY SOUL MAGNIFIES THE LORD

Let us take time to read the Narrative involving Mary (Cf. Luke 1). Mary did not come from a specially distinguished or wealthy family. But she was nevertheless chosen to become the mother of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The angel Gabriel had informed her that her older cousin, Elizabeth was now expecting a child. Elizabeth had been barren for years and her pregnancy was nothing short of being a miracle! Mary decided to visit her cousin Elizabeth who greeted her with much joy and high regard (Luke 2:41-45). Mary could not but burst out with great joy in what is called “The Magnificat” (Luke 2:46-55). 

  1. Meaning of the word “Magnificat”

a) It comes from Latin

b) It is a hymn of praise from Mary

“My soul magnifies the Lord”

  1. Mary’s soul had been deeply touched

a) She knew that she had been blessed

b) Her blessing was not in terms of material wealth

c) She had been chosen to serve God as the mother of Baby Jesus

OUR CHALLENGE THIS CHRISTMAS

Let us take time to ponder the Lord’s blessings. Perhaps, we have not been able to obtain great material gain but we have been blessed greatly too! Let us be challenged to magnify the Lord too! Let us be moved to give praise and glory to the Lord!