Advent: Joy

 It seems appropriate to think of Joy during Advent, esp. on this third Sunday of Advent. This is often called Gaudete Sunday—or Rejoice Sunday. We light the pink candle as a break from the deep and thoughtful preparation we are involved in for the coming of Christ.

The author of this week’s Episcopal Church Advent BibleStudy, the Rev. Marcea Paul states, “In our minds, joy tends to overlap with happiness. Happiness is often connected with what is happening to us and around us…When we are discouraged and afraid, rejoicing in the Lord can be a hard sell. But the truth is that joy is not usually inspired by happy circumstances. Poet and author David Whyte writes, 'To feel a full and untrammeled joy is to have become fully generous; to allow ourselves to be joyful is to have walked through the doorway of fear.'"

Generosity and Gratitude are two ways to combat the loss of joy. The Rev. Heather Melton in her UTO newsletter article this month quotes the work of Brene Brown and her own work as a Daring Way facilitator. Melton says, “one of the most important lessons I’ve learned through my work on “The Daring Way”…is to push back against “foreboding joy.” Foreboding joy is…that moment when you realize that everything is pretty great, but then you come up with all the ways it could be destroyed. For example, when someone looks at a new baby with their heart full of joy, in the next second they might start thinking about all the terrible things that could happen to that baby…when we interrupt the opportunity to embrace joy, we begin to numb our brain’s ability to identify and feel feelings. So how do we stop foreboding joy? According to Brown, we practice gratitude. We [like the Virgin Mary] treasure these things in our heart.” 

The Rev. Marcea Paul continues, “We might think that focusing our attention on what we long for but do not yet have [in Advent] might be a cause for discouragement rather than joy. But, perhaps, it is that very act of watching and waiting and looking for the coming of God that inspires great joy. The Gospel writer calls John’s exhortation “good news.” And it is, especially if we believe that we are not worthy of God’s saving grace. Nothing in our lives is beyond redemption. Knowing and accepting this is reason enough for rejoicing.”

Paul admits, “This is not easy….it takes intentional preparation and repentance – which means amending our lives and turning toward God….Advent is beckoning us to do just that, and it encourages us with a promise, rather than a threat: the promise of the coming embrace of Christ and the gift of abundant life that he brings.”

Melton echoes this idea, “Holidays can be bittersweet…Embracing joy does not mean that we can’t feel sadness or loss, but it means that gratitude can help us not let one feeling overwhelm the other. We can feel two feelings at the same time, without either being wrong. Gratitude can acknowledge that both feelings are true and important. We’ve been trained to forebode joy, minimize our feelings, and keep our vulnerable hearts safe…Christmas is a reminder that God is fully invested in us living more authentic lives, and authenticity requires vulnerability, and vulnerability takes courage and tenacity. We know this because God showed up as a tiny baby, completely vulnerable and dependent upon others at time when being a baby was especially challenging. God reminds us that love is a vulnerable act, as is joy and being present in the moment.”

Both Paul and Melton equate Joy with being grateful and generous as well as open, available, aware, and vulnerable to the promise of the season. I will say that I too often catch myself falling into ‘foreboding joy’. I can think that if I am too joyful about something that it will be snatched away. That’s not the way our God works.

Last week we saw that Philippians 4 promises the peace of God. When we look at the citation again, we note that St. Paul starts by saying, Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice…in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:4-7) We can rejoice that God hears our prayers, and rejoice that we are never separated from God’s love. This time of anticipation, waiting, and preparation for the coming of Christ, both as a Babe in a Manger and at the end of time, gives us plenty of reason to rejoice and carry joy with us.

If you are guilty of practicing ‘foreboding joy,’ try replacing it with gratitude and real joy.

What gives you the most Joy in this Advent time?

One of the suggested activities in the Advent Bible study is to write “Rejoice” on a paper and carry it with you. I would suggest putting it on your mirror so you can see it every time you look at yourself.

Next week we'll consider Hope as the way God enters our lives. 

Advent III: The Birth of John the Baptist: Journeying with Community

We are already at the third week of Advent. On the third Sunday many churches will have pink flowers on the altar to recognize Gaudete Sunday. This was originally to offer a bit of lightness into the mildly penitential tone of Advent. Often the words of Philippians 4:4-6 are sung. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Let your forbearance be known to all, for the Lord is near at hand; have no anxiety about anything, but in all things, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be

Last week I suggested that “Telling one another when blessings happen deepens the joy for both parties. Let's tell our stories.” Our joy will be greater when shared. This is the time of year when we do a lot of celebrating with friends and with family. Sometimes it can be pretty superficial, but there are also times when you have lunch with a dear friend or two, or with someone in your family and you can share you deepest joys and sorrows.

That is what happens with Elizabeth. It is always more fun to celebrate in community. In following the Way of Love curriculum and Advent calendar*, we come to the community celebration of the birth of John to Elizabeth and Zechariah. Remember, this child would grow up to become John the Baptist, the forerunner of Messiah. For now, though, this is a joyful party rejoicing in the birth of a son to an elderly couple. The Gospel of Luke says, “Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.”

The art by Luca Giordano from the 1680s entitled Birth of St John the Baptist captures the joy of the moment when all the friends and family gather together to rejoice at the new baby.  

Inviting the community can be a mixed blessing. Friends and family think they have to have input into all the decisions. “On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, “No; he is to be called John.” They said to her, “None of your relatives has this name.” Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear came over all their neighbors, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. All who heard them pondered them and said, “What then will this child become?” For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him…The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel” (Luke 1:57-80)

In keeping with the theme of ‘rejoice’ this week, the story of John’s birth and circumcision is filled with joy. As soon as he can talk again, “[Zechariah] began to speak, praising God.” His entire prophecy for his son, is a joy-filled hymn of praise in a way that touches on each of the 7 Way of Love disciplines. Take some time this week to pause with each phrase and pray about what it means to you, your Advent journey, and all those on the Way of Love.

Pray: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them.

Worship: He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David

Learn: as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham,

Go: to grant us that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days

Turn: And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins.

Bless:  By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death

Rest: to guide our feet into the way of peace.

On the Planner page, you will find some hints for thinking about Community as you go through the week.

The Way of Love curriculum* asks participants to consider all seven of the Way of Love practices (Worship, Go, Learn, Pray, Bless, Turn, Rest) with some thought-provoking questions that you may want to think about.

• Which of the practices brought you the most joy…or blessing? Which practice has been life-giving and where did you cross borders?

• How does your community celebrate joy together? How does your community support others in their joy?

• Who in your faith community has a prophetic voice? (perhaps it is you)

• When have you experienced God’s love for you here? When have you felt yourself loving God in the context of this community?

This week you may want to use this prayer from the curriculum:

Merciful God of peace, your word, spoken by the prophets, restores your people’s life and hope: Fill our hearts with the joy of your saving grace, that we may hold fast to your great goodness and proclaim your justice in all the world. Amen [Revised Common Lectionary Prayers, alt., proposed by the Consultation on Common Texts (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2002), p. 33].

*Way of Love Advent Curriculum; By Jenifer Gamber and Becky Zartman; Copyright © 2018 by The Episcopal Church;

The Episcopal Church/ 815 2nd Ave/New York, NY 10017