Monica Scheifele of MCC’s Ottawa Office reflects on joy in this Christmas season, mixed with longing:
The waiting of advent is finally over and at last we can let our joy break forth as we celebrate the gift of God coming among us. We’ve kept awake in anticipation of the unexpected. We’ve felt God drawing near to us as we trusted in the new thing being done, and now we’re ready to celebrate.
We can lift our voices with the sentinels in Isaiah 52:8 who sing for joy as they see the return of the LORD to Zion. With the Psalmist we can sing a new song and make a joyful noise to the LORD for the marvelous things He has done. It feels good to let loose and celebrate after feeling as if the waiting would never end.
However, for many the waiting doesn’t end as they continue searching for a job, hoping for a home, suffering through an illness, enduring a violent conflict, or longing for freedom…

Posted by Rachelle Lyndaker Schlabach