Our Hero is the Joy in Advent.

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My grandniece is obsessed with the movie Frozen. Her room is a purple palace tribute to the movie. So when her local supermarket had a Frozen event and her heroes Elsa and Anna would be there, her mom dressed her in her favorite Elsa hoodie and off they went to meet the “real” princess sisters! She was overjoyed at meeting her heroes, and a little awestruck.  In childhood, those memories seem to have a glow of light and joy around them, like the photo. In the baby Jesus we’ve met our hero and joy fills our hearts. We are a little awestruck.

That’s how the angels felt as they sang “Glory to God in the Highest!” That’s how the shepherds felt when they bowed to the baby Jesus. And how the Magi felt when they brought their gifts. They met the baby called Jesus who would grow up to be The Hero in the flesh, the Savior of their present lives and the King of the future. Light and awe filled their life!

Now we worship this baby, Jesus our Hero. And we are awestruck with joy by His majesty, mercy and immeasurable love toward us. He left his heavenly throne to be one of us, a man yet still God, to break the barrier of sin and restore us to Him so we could live with Him forever. No greater Hero ever lived, and joy and light is ours always. We have it now, no matter what this life brings. We have it forever in our next life with our Lord and Savior.

“Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done this wondrous thing.
    Shout for joy, O depths of the earth!
Break into song,
    O mountains and forests and every tree!
For the Lord has redeemed Jacob
    and is glorified in Israel.”
Isaiah 44:23 New Living Translation

“I will shout for joy and sing your praises, for you have ransomed me.”
Psalm 71:23 New Living Translation

Copyright text Desiree Bustamante
Copyright photo Kimberly Bryson