Come Into The Word with Sarah Christmyer | Bible Study | Lectio Divina | Journals | Retreat

  • About
  • Blog
    • Scripture Reflection
    • Prayer & Lectio Divina
    • Bible Reading & Study
    • Holidays and Holy Days
    • Discipleship
    • Women of the Bible
  • Resources
    • New Release
    • Books & Journals
    • Bible Studies
    • How-tos & Reading Plans
  • Speaking
    • Speaking Topics
    • Schedule
    • Testimonials
    • Reviews & Interviews
    • Past Events
  • Contact

THE GIFT OF THE STAR

December 22, 2018 By Sarah Christmyer 2 Comments

“This time, I will praise the Lord.”

That’s what Jacob’s wife Leah said in Genesis 29 as she named her fourth baby Judah, which means “praise.”

“This time, I will praise the Lord.”

This time. Because she named her first three boys for her pain: Reuben (“see, a son”) because “surely now my husband will love me;” Simeon (“God has heard” that she’s hated); and Levi (“joined”) because “this time my husband will be joined to me.” She named them out of her gaping, longing heart that wanted nothing but the one thing she didn’t have, her husband’s love.

Maybe this time he’ll love me, she thought as she bore him one son after another. Yet still he doted on her sister.

Somehow Leah came to terms with heartbreak. But not somehow — you can see it as she names her boys. At some point she determined to drop her complaint and praise the Lord instead, right in the middle of her pain. Judah means praise! With her fourth child, Leah took her eyes off of herself. She looked to the Lord and found her peace in him.

Sometimes Christmas brings out pain we cover the rest of the year. It can come as a sudden stab when we see a child, hand-in-hand with laughing parents, picking out a Christmas tree. If we can’t be with our family, or if our family is anything but happy, every Christmas song and Hallmark TV special hurts. Even other people’s joy can seem to mock us. That’s why the Christmas Star is such a gift. It calls us to lift our eyes and hearts up out of the darkness, and sing in praise. Even if we don’t feel like it.

Maybe that’s why the angels appeared in the sky too, over Bethlehem — they show us how to praise, they lead the way. Because the act of praising God can lift your heart!

Photo source: Pexels.com

 

This time, I will praise the Lord, Leah said. This time, when your situation gets you down: make the effort to follow that star. Determine to praise until it leads you to the One who entered our pain and is able to give us peace and joy, however dark things seem.

Let Hannah and Mary teach you to praise

Today’s readings give us two beautiful examples of praise: Hannah’s song when the Lord gives her a son in answer to her prayer, and Mary’s Magnificat, sung when the Lord surprised her with the gift of his Son. God does “lift the needy from the dust,” as Hannah said. He “fills the hungry with good things,” as Mary sang. Proclaim his greatness with one of these songs and allow it to lift your heart to the One who is able to fill it. Learn, like Leah did, the power of praise.

© 2018 Sarah Christmyer

My favorite Magnificat hymn is John Michael Talbot’s song, Holy is His Name. Here’s a lovely version of it by Kitty Cleveland.

+ + + + + + +

Come to the Manger and Find Peace! This 30-minute talk draws inspiration from the shepherds, the magi, and others who made their way to the manger that long-ago Christmas.

Available now from CD Baby.

Filed Under: Holidays and Holy Days, Scripture Reflection

Comments

  1. Hank says

    December 22, 2018 at 3:16 pm

    Thank you Sarah!

  2. Arlita M Winston says

    December 23, 2018 at 5:17 pm

    And just like Leah. . .with each new babe our Lord seems to teach us something more about His character. . . I used to wonder why anyone would name their baby “Leah”. . . but no more!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 characters available

Sarah Christmyer writes and speaks about Scripture and the Catholic faith with the goal of helping people meet Jesus in his Word. “The Bible isn’t just a book about God or instructions for a good life; it’s a place to meet God and be changed by him,” she says. Her love of Scripture fuels her writing of Bible studies and related books; her teaching of Philadelphia seminarians; her speaking at conferences and retreats; and writing for blogs such as this one. “Come Into the Word” draws people into the Bible and encourages and equips them to explore it on their own.

Subscribe Here

Sign up to receive new posts and news via email. (Add sarah@comeintotheword.com to your address book to make sure mail arrives in your inbox!)

Search Come Into The Word

Categories

Recent Posts

  • PSALMS FOR LENT: Find GRACE in the Penitential Psalms
  • ADD SCRIPTURE TO YOUR LENTEN DIET
  • TRUST IN GOD; HE’S GOT YOUR BACK
  • FINDING JOY AT CHRISTMAS
  • FOCUSING ON THE CHRIST CHILD with the O Antiphons
  • THANKSGIVING PSALMS: Drowning grief in gratitude

Archives

Recommended

  • Integrated Catholic Life – Catholic blogs and resources
  • Lux App and Lux University – online faith hub for women
  • Peter Kreeft – featured writings and audio
  • The Sacred Page (Michael Barber, John Bergsma, Brant Pitre, John Kincaid) – blog
  • Scripture Speaks (Gayle Somers) – commentary on the Mass readings
  • Speaking of Scripture (Mary Healy, Daniel Keating, Peter Williamson, et al) – blog
  • Women in the New Evangelization (WINE) – women’s ministry, book club, blog

 

We engage in affiliate marketing whereby we receive funds through clicks to our affiliate program through this website. This disclosure is intended to comply with the US Federal Trade Commission Rules on marketing and advertising, as well as any other legal requirements which may apply.

 

Let’s Connect

mailfacebook instagram pinterest

Subscribe Here

Sign up to receive new posts and news via email. (Add sarah@comeintotheword.com to your address book to make sure mail arrives in your inbox!)

MENU

  • About
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • Speaking
  • Contact
  • Home

Copyright © 2023 Come into the Word LLC | Site designed by Cynthia Oswald

  • About
  • Blog
    △
    • Scripture Reflection
    • Prayer & Lectio Divina
    • Bible Reading & Study
    • Holidays and Holy Days
    • Discipleship
    • Women of the Bible
  • Resources
    △
    • New Release
    • Books & Journals
    • Bible Studies
    • How-tos & Reading Plans
  • Speaking
    △
    • Speaking Topics
    • Schedule
    • Testimonials
    • Reviews & Interviews
    • Past Events
  • Contact