There is almost a tone of giddiness in the scriptures for this day from the Song of Songs, the prophet Zephaniah and the Gospel According to Luke. There is JOY all around! One might feel like being in an audience that is being "warmed up" for the star to appear on stage! The Song of Songs is a love poem that the early Christian community interpreted as the relationship between Christ and the church! Zephaniah sounds a note of deliverance! Elizabeth and Mary share the joy and challenges of their first (and only) pregnancies which are as theological as they are biological!! The tone is one like "Hang on! Help is on the way!"
It can be challenging to get into that "spirit" with all the demands both cultural and social as well as physical that this "season" imposes. My own suggestion to those who ask me during this season, "What should I do?" is: "Set up that nativity scene minus the baby and each day spend a few seconds thinking about what it means." As these "countdown days" go by, all the scriptures for the daily celebration build up to filling that manger with a baby. Getting that crib ready is part of the process, as many parents know. We can all participate! AMEN