3rd Sunday of Advent

 The Spirit of the Lord Is. 61:1-2

How can you tell if someone is a Christian ?

Is it because they go to church?

Is everyone who goes to church really a Christian?

Is that all it takes?

Is it by how much they give in the collection. 

Or maybe because they were baptized and have a certificate they can show others. 

Or that Can they quote Scripture by chapter and verse?

How can you tell if someone is really a Christian by fact and not just by name.

If the Spirit of the Lord is upon them!

If they bring glad tidings to the poor

And heal the brokenhearted. 

If they proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners. 

For this is the Spirit of Jesus. 

We must therefore ask ourselves,

Is the Spirit of the Lord upon me?

Do I bring glad tidings to the poor?

Do I heal the brokenhearted?

Do I proclaim liberty to captives and freedom for prisoners?

Liberty to those who are captive to their sins and addictions?

Freedom to those who are prisoners to their fears and anxieties?

This is the Spirit of the Lord;

And those on whom the Spirit of the Lord rests

Have the True Spirit of Christmas in their hearts.