When Simeon takes up baby Jesus in his arms, he is experiencing and foreshadowing the comfort and joy of the Light of the World that has come into the world. When Simeon says to Mary that his son would cause the rise and fall of many and reveal the hearts of many, he is describing and foreshadowing the conviction that the Light of the World will bring to a sinful world. And when he jubilantly praises that God salvation will be seen by all nations and a light for revelation to the Gentiles, he is articulating the wonderful Gospel truth that the Light of the World is for the whole world, Jew and Gentile alike. May we be comforted and convicted to greater repentance and faithfulness as we live out our call to bring the Light of the World to the whole world.

Matthew 1:18–25 draws us into the quiet, courageous love at the heart of the Holy Family—love that shapes the Advent story and reveals God’s heart for us. This passage begins in tension and uncertainty: Mary is found to be with child, and Joseph is left with questions, disappointment, and fear. Yet instead of acting out of anger or pride, Joseph chooses a path of compassion. Even before the angel speaks, Joseph’s love leans toward mercy. When the angel reveals God’s plan, Joseph steps into a deeper kind of love—obedient, sacrificial, steadfast. He embraces Mary, embraces the child, and embraces the calling that God places upon him. Advent Love is not sentimental; it is costly. It is the love that protects, trusts, and perseveres. Mary, too, walks in love—carrying the Christ child with faith, vulnerability, and hope. Together, Mary and Joseph embody a love that welcomes God’s presence into the world through simple, faithful obedience. This passage reminds us that Advent Love is God’s initiative: “He will save his people from their sins.” In Jesus, divine love takes on flesh. And through the Holy Family, we see how human love becomes a vessel for God’s redeeming work.

Luke 2:8–20 invites us to discover Advent Joy through the unlikely experience of the shepherds—ordinary, overlooked people doing ordinary, overlooked work. In the quiet darkness of a routine night, heaven suddenly breaks in. An angel appears not to the powerful or the religious elite, but to those on the margins, declaring, “I bring you good news of great joy for all people.” Advent Joy begins here: God’s joy comes not because circumstances are perfect, but because God meets us where we are. The shepherds’ world did not instantly change—Rome still ruled, their fields were still cold—but they ran to Bethlehem carrying a joy stronger than fear. They found a newborn child lying in a manger, the Messiah in the most unexpected place. Their joy overflowed as they returned to their fields, glorifying and praising God. The darkness remained, yet the shepherds were different because joy had found them. This passage reminds us that Advent Joy is not shallow happiness or seasonal cheer. It is the deep, surprising joy of knowing that God has come near—entering our ordinary days, our uncertainties, and our hidden places. Like the shepherds, we are invited to encounter Christ and carry His joy back into the world.