Today is the third Sunday in the Advent Season. I light a pink candle.
“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough — because there was no room for them at the lodging place. In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.” Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors! When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough. After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told.”
Luke 2:1-20 HCSB
http://bible.com/72/luk.2.1-20.hcsb
Can’t you just imagine that night? What a sight and what a sound that must have been. I can’t hardly read those verses without hearing Linus’ voice in my head. Poor Charlie Brown. He can get no respect. Charlie Brown is feeling those Christmas blue’s. There is a lonliness in his soul. “Isn’t there somebody who can tell me what Christmas is all about?” Everytime I watch “Charlie Brown Christmas” I can feel ole Charlie’s sadness. That is how touching that scene is for me. Then enter Linus stage right, “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the fields keeping watch over their sheep by night.” Linus would start reading in his child’s voice with a hint of a lisp, and as he recites this passage in Luke, the gloomy cloud over my heart begins to lift. Linus continues reading, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord…” Then he walks back to Charlie Brown, “And that is what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown” Joy comes flooding back in!
So many surround us who really don’t know what Christmas is all about. They suffer from the “Christmas Blues.” What wipes out “Christmas Blues”?Remembering what Christmas is all about!
Today as Kevin and I light the pink “Shepherd’s Candle” or the “Candle of Joy”, we read Luke 2:1-20, listen to “Joy to the World” and remember the night the darks sky lit up as the “Glory of the Lord” shone all around. We remember the night Our Savior entered our world as a baby and we look forward to a day when the sky will roll back, a trumpet will sound, and Our Savior will come back as KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS!
I love that scene in Charli Brown as well. It’s Justin’s favorite thing to watch as a family every Christmas too! It’s much needed to remember Jesus in all of our material focus at Christmastime. I find myself reminding my girls at bed time each night what this is all about. I know they know, but we all need the consistent reminders to stay focused! Great blog 🙂