An Audacious Advent: ReImagining the Heart of AdventSample

Joy: Echoing the Good News

When I think about the Advent season, my mind goes back to my grandmother’s home—hearing her welcoming voice, the comforting smells of food cooking, and the rich sound of Mahalia Jackson’s album filling the house. One of her favorites was the carol, "Do You Hear What I Hear?" That song paints a vivid picture of joy spreading across creation as the announcement of the Messiah’s birth was heard.

Can you imagine the joy of that moment? The long-awaited Savior—the One who would deliver us from sorrow, sin, and shame—had finally come. The heavens declared it, the earth responded, and hearts were filled with rejoicing. Oh, what great Joy indeed!

Advent invites us to pause and remember that same announcement. Think back to the first time you truly heard about the birth of Jesus—not just as a holiday story, but as the reality that He was born for you. He came to bring freedom, forgiveness, and hope. That truth alone can stir joy in the deepest places of our hearts.

Yet the world around us is noisy. The economy, social unrest, personal struggles, and even the busyness of the season compete for our attention. But Advent Joy calls us to decide what we will hear. Amid the clamor, there is still a clear voice proclaiming:

“I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all people.” (Luke 2:10, NIV)

This Joy is not shallow or fleeting. It is louder than uncertainty, stronger than fear, and greater than disappointment. It reminds us that no matter what surrounds us, Christ has come—and He is with us still.

The voice of joy during Advent is not meant to be hidden; it is given so we can share it. Jesus came for all people, and His joy grows stronger as we pass it on. This season, let your voice echo the angel’s announcement.

And when you do, the carol’s question will become your confident declaration:

“Do you hear what I hear?”

With great joy, the answer will be—YES!

Advent Invitation:
Pause for a moment to quiet the noise around you and listen for the voice of Joy. What have you been tuning your heart toward lately—fear, distraction, or the steady whisper of God’s presence? As you reflect, invite the Holy Spirit to help you hear again the good news that Christ has come, and consider what it might look like to echo that Joy—through your words, actions, and presence—this Advent season and into the new year.

Written by: Pastor Aneysa Matthews