the jumping, singing god
"He will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in His love. He will sing joyfully because of you." —Zephaniah 3:17
Yesterday we heard of King Ahaz wearying God (Is 7:13). Today we picture God "springing across the mountains, leaping across the hills" (Sg 2:8), and breaking out into song because of us (Zep 3:17). We can (so to speak) make Him jubilant or sad.
The purpose of Christmas is not for us to be happy; rather, it is for us to make God happy, even jubilant. It's not what we "get for Christmas," but what God "gets for Christmas." We give God what He wants and make Him happy by giving Him ourselves, our lives, and our love, and by inviting others to do the same.
Then, when God sees you singing Christmas carols, He will want to sing along with you and because of you. Consequently, give your life and love to Him totally and ever more deeply. With docility, receive the only true Christmas Spirit: the Holy Spirit. Rejoice in the Spirit and with the Spirit.
Prayer: Father, may I make You jump for joy.
Promise: "Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." —Lk 1:45
Praise: "Come, Radiant Dawn, Splendor of eternal light, Sun of justice: shine on those lost in the darkness of death!"
Reference: (Give God a gift of reading His book, the Bible, every day. We have several tape series that may help you. Overview of the Bible is six audio tapes starting with AV 10A-1 or three video tapes starting with V-10A. 15-minute Bible Teaching - New Testament is forty audio tapes starting with #700. An Introduction to each Book of the Bible is thirty-two audio tapes starting with AV 21-1 or seventeen video tapes starting with V-21.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend David L. Zink, June 12, 2002
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 13, 2002