- December 15, 2013
- Isaiah 35:1-10
- Psalm 146:5-10 or Luke 1:46b-55
- James 5:7-10
- Matthew 11:2-11
What, exactly is joy? Joy and happiness are not the same thing. Happiness is elusive enough: is it a hedonistic "doing what feels good?" or an Aristotelian "a good man living a good life in a good society?" Joy is neither of these. Joy seems to have the added quality of being a surprise. Hedonists cannot be feeling joy when they satisfy their passions, for that what they set out to do. Neither can Stoics be experiencing joy in their intentional lifetime of doing good and noble things, for that is what they set out to do. Joy, on the other hand, like Grace, is not a thing we can force on ourselves. It comes from outside ourselves and surprises us when it comes.
In Isaiah there is much water imagery. "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water;" By itself water does nothing, but life needs water. Provide water to the desert and crocuses will blossom. Dark places where jackals live become swampy places where reeds and rushes grow. Water is the much needed thing, but the response to water is life and living. Land becomes productive and the people of the Lord live no longer in fear, but "they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away."
In the Psalm, when we depend on God our hope is not disappointed and we receive our help as needed. To some, there may be an expectation of disappointment when we depend on others, but God is creator of heaven and earth, "who keeps faith forever." God does not disappoint. Even the poor, who too often do not get a fair shake from society, even the poor get justice.
Mary is surprised indeed to be blessed with a pregnancy considering she is a virgin. She is surprised to be chosen by God. She is surprised to be the vessel that brings joy to the world like much needed water. She knows how big and awesome and good God is, and she is surprised to be important and useful to God.
James knows the farmer's joy when the crops finally arrive. Steadfastness is rewarded with the miracle of growth and joy. James also knows that waiting for joy is not always easy. Patience is not easy and needs encouragement. So James encourages us and reminds us not to make it harder by grumbling against each other. If we're going to have to wait, make it easy on ourselves in the meantime and live reconciled to each other. What are we waiting for after all? We're waiting for that joyful judgement from God that leads to joyful, reconciled life. Since we're waiting for that judge, do nothing in the meantime to bring judgement on ourselves so that when the judge comes we can rejoice in the judgement.
Joy, of course is like babies. Joy is like the baby kicking in Elizabeth's womb. That baby grows up to be a prophet and prophets are not know for being terribly joyful. This prophet, John the Baptist raises up the low places and brings down the high places and makes everything ready to receive the Grace which is Christ. John lives to become imprisoned like so many prophets, but hears the rumors and sends messengers looking for joy. Prophets speak truth to power, but don't always expect to be listened to. John warned of the coming of the Lord, but what prophet expects their prophecy to come true in their own lifetime? Sure in that prison, John received from his messengers some news that would bring joy to the heart of any prophet. He was right; God was faithful; the Kingdom of Heaven was indeed at hand.
And what proof did John receive in prison? Jesus points out to John's messengers all the signs of the Kingdom that had been foretold before. All the signs of the promised joys of the coming of the Lord: the blind receive joy in sight, the lame receive joy in walking, the deaf receive joy in hearing the incarnate Word of God, those who were spiritually dead and those who were literally dead are alive and productive and giving praise to God, and the poor receive justice.
Martin Luther is famous for latching onto his baptism as a constant source of joy in his life. The Confession of 1967 says, “Baptism with water represents not only cleansing from sin, but a dying with Christ and a joyful rising with him to new life.” <”The Confession of 1967.” The Book of Confessions. Office of the General Assembly. Louisville, Ky. 2004. §9.51. p. 261.>. We can take joy when we realize we have grace from God and that our sins are forgiven. We can take joy like Luther when we remember the sign of that grace, our baptism. We can take joy when the waters of our baptism produce abundant life. We can take joy, being baptized, being grafted onto the body of Christ when we bring to reality the hopes of others and surprise them with the Grace of Christ and bring them joy in the Lord.
joy is like water in the desert
joy is depending on someone and not being disappointed
joy is like justice for those who don't expect it
joy is like being chosen
joy produces precious crops for the steadfast
joy is like a baby kicking
joy is like the a prophet who lives to see his prophecy
joy is like the blind seeing, the lame walking, the deaf hearing, the dead living
joy is like the poor receiving justice.
joy comes in realizing our grace
joy comes in remembering our baptism
joy comes in living in Christ
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