The News Is Good

Read Matthew 11:25-30

"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 28-30 (NRSV)

Graham N. West is from Wisconsin. Every Christmas, his wife brings out a tattered recipe for Christmas pudding that she has made for almost four decades. She inherited the recipe, which Graham's mother made for her family each Christmas. The much-loved recipe is faded, smudged, and stained. Yet it brings joy to their family every year.

By the time Graham reaches the Christmas season at the end of the year, his heart is also tattered. Whatever joy he held at the beginning of the year has faded. The clarity of his vision is smudged. He is stained by letdowns, setbacks, and defeats.

That's when Graham knows it is time to bring out the well-loved story of the angel announcing Jesus' birth in Luke chapter 2. The angel announcing the birth of Christ our Savior brings joy to our expectant hearts. after a hard year of challenge, stress, and struggle this is truly good news of great joy! God has never forgotten us and comes to renew us each year at Christmastime.

Prayer: Gracious God, after a hard year help us to remember the good news of Christ our Savior. May we discover in him the fullness of your joy, for we pray in His Holy name. Amen.