Joy

Turn to Luke 1:46-55 and hear about joy.  Joy defined in Webster’s is a feeling of great pleasure or happiness, but that is not biblical.   Biblical joy is a deep, inner contentment and well-being rooted in God, the Holy Spirit, and His promises, unlike the fleeting, circumstantial happiness.  Joy is a gift from God, that empowers believers to have hope and endure trials.  It encourages us to persevere as we are forgiven by God and transformed from the guilt that grips us to gratitude that frees us.  Joy is a choice.  It defies circumstances, leading to proclamation, and manifesting as praise and strength even in suffering.

     Gaudete Sunday is the third Sunday of Advent, the day the pink candle is lit.  It is the shepherds’ candle acknowledging the great joy they felt at the announcement of Jesus' birth.  Shepherds were  isolated and dirty.  In the time of Jesus, they were disrespected; not home often so they were unable to protect their families. In the field, they did not attend temple regularly, so they were looked upon as religiously unclean.  Theologian Morris says that shepherds were unreliable hence forbidden to give testimony.  Did you hear the irony in that? They were known as unreliable yet were chosen to give the greatest testimony ever.  God often does the unexpected with the least predictable to get our attention.  

      The key role of a shepherd was caretaker, so to have our Shepherd be shepherded by shepherds seems quite appropriate.  It’s also important to know that the shepherds represented the people of Israel – highlighting that all – all were invited to worship their Messiah. These isolated, unclean, brash, and forgotten by the majority, were initially frightened by the angel’s appearance.  The angel comforted them saying, “Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you, a message that will fill everyone with joy.”   Friends, this is personal – it involves us.  The regular, common, disenfranchised, outsiders, all of us are participants by proxy.  This scene reinforces that God is in charge even when life appears to be spiraling.

      Much like today, it was a weary world –wars, economic issues, and a stressed political arena pointed to despair and then came Jesus, the sure and certain hope, peace in the midst of chaos.   We cannot miss this point, everyone is part of the plan – the poor, uneducated, the young, the wealthy, educated and old.  Jesus is the ‘Good Shepherd’ and He came to save and reconcile us.  Let’s jump for joy and run and tell. 

Notice - The shepherds had to go and look for Jesus, and church, so do we.  They took the initiative.  They accepted the invitation.  Jesus was waiting and remains that way. We in our humility, need to respond to Jesus’ invitation and acknowledge our need for a Savior.  

     The shepherds did just as they were summoned to do; they went, found and told…in a moment’s notice they were ready.  So, in this in-between time, Advent, I ask, are we ready?  How often do we find ourselves in the midst of an ordinary day and given an extraordinary opportunity to share the gospel news. We cannot withhold this lifesaving information; it is not negotiable.   Tell your personal story.  In doing so, it will move you and them into a deeper relationship with our God.

     As we travel through this season, we mustn’t overlook Joseph.  He experienced hardships and waited and trusted God.  Confused but obedient, Joseph complied. He could have walked away or even had Mary stoned, but Joseph took the high road.  Even though he would face humiliation, he married Mary, assuming responsibility for her and naming his son Jesus.   He brought his young family to safety in Egypt.  Life was not easy for Joseph. This Christmas story clears up the misconception about how life in Christ is—we are not free of hardship; we are blessed that through it we are never alone.  

     Then there’s Mary.  Her teenage life was turned upside down with a visit from an angel saying, “…she was highly favored by God and will give birth to a son.”  Scared, surprised and overwhelmed, Mary’s response to the angel was, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let everything you’ve said happen to me.”  We didn’t hear a why me, God?  There wasn’t any grumbling or comparing.  Mary teaches us to be obedient and trust God.  Her song gave praise to God and expressed joy.  Friends, in her song, we hear about God's saving power that will lift the meek, and His decision to favor the humble.   

     Sunday was a joyful reminder of the Virgin Mary and Christ's birth.  Mary’s song teaches us that God overturns worldly justice; He is sovereign and in control.  This Magnificat reminds us that God is at work in us and that the God who brought us to “it” will bring us through it.  

     So, who do you identify with? Are you making haste to follow Christ like the shepherds, are you God’s messenger sharing God’s Word like the angel, are you loyal and standing in the background obedient to God like Joseph, or are you responding as His humble servant?  Conversely, where do you and I need to be a more committed active participant in this Advent season?  We have the gift of salvation, warranting a jump for true joy…and all God’s people say, amen.

Blessings,

Pastor Kerry

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