Tuesday, December 24: “Restoration of Joy”

Isaiah 35: 8, 10: “A highway will be there, a roadway, and it will be called the Highway of Holiness ... The ransomed of the Lord will return and will come with joyful shouting to Zion, with everlasting joy upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”

The Word made flesh brought redemption, a ransom from the bondage of sin, and gave God’s children the right to walk on the Highway of Holiness (John 1:12), unlike the way of the wicked, which leads to sorrow and sighing (Psalm 1: 6). With Mary, we now proclaim, “My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.” That is what makes Christmas joyful!