[Happiness] comes to the monk in his cell.
It comes to the woman sweeping the street
with a birch broom, to the child
whose mother has passed out from drink.
It comes to the lover

Happiness, Jane Kenyon

Each day in Advent readings are given by various contributors according to the prayer's themes of light, power, joy and laughter and finally of love. Andrew Hook reads from Ruth Burgss's Candles and Conifers

Taddeo Gaddi, the Annunciation to theShepherds, detail, Baroncelli Chapel, Church of Santa Croce, Florence

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go and see this think that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they has seen him, they spread the word concerning what has been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:15-19

For their part we are then told that in their travelling, in their homecoming 'the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen, which were just as they had been told.' What started as a fearful encounter concluded with a satisfying ending; it had turned out well regardless of their questions and their mystification. It's a timely reminder perhaps that this message, a part of the bigger gospel, is good news, is a blessing, is rounded and meant to be ultimately pleasing and fitting; and is meant for all.

Shepherds

In our watching, in our waiting,
God is alive in us and we are glad.
In our questioning, in our hoping
God is alive in us and we are glad

In our dreaming, in our dancing
God is alive in us and we are glad
In our travelling, in our homecoming
God is alive in us and we are glad.

Candles and Conifers, Ruth Burgess