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(Zep.3:14-18a;\xa0\xa0 Is.12:2-6;\xa0\xa0 Phil.4:4-7;\xa0\xa0 Lk.3:10-18)\xa0 \u201cRejoice in the Lord always.\xa0 I shall say it again: Rejoice!\u201d\xa0 \u201cShout for joy, O daughter Zion!\xa0 Sing joyfully, O Israel!\xa0 Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!\u201d Zephaniah exclaims.\xa0 \u201cShout with exultation, O city of Zion\u201d! Isaiah urges.\xa0 And Paul is overwhelmed with the spirit of rejoicing.\xa0 Why such joy?\xa0 Whence such celebration?\xa0 \u201cThe Lord, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior,\u201d Zephaniah declares.\xa0 \u201cGreat in your midst is the Holy One of Israel!\u201d Isaiah proclaims.\xa0 And Paul tells us simply: \u201cThe Lord is near.\u201d\xa0 What could bring greater joy than such a prospect? And so we \u201chave no further misfortune to fear.\u201d\xa0 And so we should be \u201cconfident and unafraid.\u201d\xa0 And so we should \u201chave no anxiety.\u201d\xa0 For the Lord will \u201crenew [us] in His love.\u201d\xa0 Our strength and [our] salvation is the Lord,\u201d and \u201cthe peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard [our] hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.\u201d\xa0 Why should we not be joyful if He Himself \u201cwill rejoice over [us] with gladness,\u201d if because of us He sings \u201cas one sings at festivals.\u201d\xa0 Should we not match His joy poured out for our sakes and sing the song of salvation? And it is John the Baptist who hails most clearly the song of salvation coming into our midst.\xa0 It is he who \u201cpreached good news to the people\u201d with all the power of God, exhorting them to holiness that they might be gathered as \u201cwheat into His barn.\u201d\xa0 By him \u201cthe people were filled with expectation\u201d; by him and by his pronouncement of the coming of Him who \u201cwill baptize [them] with the Holy Spirit and fire,\u201d the song of joy is ignited in their hearts.\xa0 He calls us all, by the Spirit that filled Isaiah, to \u201cgive thanks to the Lord, [and] acclaim His name.\u201d\xa0 It is he who \u201camong the nations make[s] known His deeds, [who] proclaim[s] how exalted is His name.\u201d\xa0 And the souls of even tax collectors and soldiers turn to him in anxious anticipation. And yes, what about us, brothers and sisters?\xa0 Is the joy of Christ brimming over in our hearts, despite any situation?\xa0 Do we hear the voice of the Baptist \u2013 and the prophets and the apostles \u2013 crying out His way of peace?\xa0 And do we follow as the voice instructs?\xa0 Indeed, the Lord is near; He is in our midst.\xa0 Let us welcome Him with the purest of joy. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Head Over Heels, Turn Around" from The Innocent Heart, first album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ****** O LORD, your Son is coming and we should repent of all sin that we might be ready to rejoice and give Him praise. YHWH, the fire of the Spirit has come to us; John has proclaimed the light in our midst.\xa0 Jesus, your Son, is now among us, and what should we do but rejoice? O LORD God, holy is your NAME, and holy is the One whom you send to us.\xa0 So holy is He that we are not worthy to kneel at His feet.\xa0 For He reflects your greatness, O LORD; His light is your own.\xa0 How can we stand in your overwhelming glory, except that in Him we receive your promised mercy in our soul? What mercy you bring us this day, LORD God!\xa0 What grace is ours in the word the Baptist speaks.\xa0 For he proclaims the Christ come among us \u2013 he proclaims the salvation of your lowly ones. We are but your servants, LORD, unworthy to wait on your only Son.\xa0 Yet you bless us with your loving mercy and invite us to perfection in Him.\xa0 And so, what can we do but rejoice?