How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices, together they sing for joy; for in plain sight they see the return of the LORD to Zion. Break forth together into singing, you ruins of Jerusalem; for the LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
In the 1962 classic, Gypsy, Baby June’s newsboys start the show proclaiming “Extra! Extra! Hey look at the headlines! Historical news is being made! Extra! Extra! They’re drawing a red line – around the biggest scoop of the decade! A barrel of charm; a fabulous thrill. The biggest little headline in vaudeville. Presenting . . . in person . . . that 3 foot 3 bundle of dynamite . . . . baby . . . June!”
It is a scene full of energy, light and excitement, as the newsboys peak the audience’s interest and make sure everyone is paying attention to the main attraction. Without the right messengers, Baby June would not become the star she was meant to be, even with the persistence of her overbearing stage mom.
The season of Advent urges us to pay attention to God’s messengers, from the angels to the prophets, and dial into a greater awareness of their message. It isn’t easy to do. There are tens of thousands of messages that surround us each and every day. From phone calls to text messages to e-mails to Facebook to Snapchat, we are bombarded. Ads fill our mailboxes declaring the best deals of the season, and commercials on tv and radio vie for our dollars. Family, friends, school, work, and even church are full of invitations for special holiday events, filling our calendars with things that are “important.” Add in Christmas gift wish lists and other to-dos and we can easily be overwhelmed by it all, lost in a sea of sound.
Isaiah, though, calls us to listen this season to the messengers who announce peace, good news and salvation. In the midst of holiday chaos, in the stresses and challenges of our lives, their voices still rise in song, proclaiming hope to all the nations. For these messengers, it is plain to see – God is coming. Comfort is on the way. Redemption will be found.
So take some time this season and listen – whether it’s a Christmas carol playing in the background as you do your grocery shopping, the laughter of a child or conversation with a dear friend, or even a rare moment of silence and stillness, pay attention for the good news that surrounds us and reminds us of the reason for our celebration to begin with.
If we do that, then maybe we can become messengers of good news, too. Perhaps we could even rewrite Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim’s lyrics for Advent:
“Extra! Extra! Hey look at the headlines! Historical news is being made!
Extra! Extra! They’re drawing a red line – around the biggest scoop of the decade!
The Savior has come; redemption is near. The greatest piece of news of this and every year!
Presenting . . . in person . . . God incarnate in the manger . . . baby . . . Jesus!”
May we remember this breaking news as we count down the days to Christmas, and celebrate those messengers who help remind us of it along the way.
Written by Rev. Elizabeth Lovell Milford
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