Finding and Bringing Jesus into our Advent

“Who am I, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1:43)

As Mary arrives to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who is pregnant with John the Baptist, she doesn’t say a word before Elizabeth proclaims what she knows.

Mary is pregnant with the Messiah.

John recognized it in the womb, and Elizabeth understood his joy. And Mary hadn’t said a word.

We are not quite at the panic-level days of December when we have to pay exorbitant prices for shipping or just make a card with a picture saying, “It’s in the mail,” but the pressure is definitely rising. At least it is for me, since I haven’t even put my shopping list together, much less started looking for the gifts. Maybe your December is going better than that. I hope so.

Either way, I think it is good for us to remember the story of the season on occasion and change the way we go through our Advent. Even if we started strong, it’s so easy to lose it in all the activity and busyness of December.

Today’s part of the story in my Advent calendar (click here for instructions to make your own!) is this moment of recognition between Mary and Elizabeth, and as I sit in that moment, much of the stress of the season starts to melt away.

I realize that like Elizabeth, I have many people who bring Jesus to me – in person, at my door, and even in the Starbucks line. Something in me recognizes Him, and I need to pay attention to it. Sometimes I need that gentle touch or simple reminder that all of this shopping and decorating and celebrating is about the incredible gift we have been given in Jesus.

I see that, like Mary, I can bring Jesus with me into everything I do, and I don’t necessarily need to say anything for someone to be blessed by it. I understand that the first place I need to go is to my family – to love, to serve, and to celebrate, bringing the love of Jesus that fills me.

And finally, I believe that somewhere deep within me, Jesus is growing. My Christmas preparations are getting me ready to receive Him in a new and beautiful way. He is tiny, hidden, and there are only subtle signs of what is coming, but they are there. And when He enters my world, I can share Him in the world.

Come, Lord Jesus. Come.