December 7, 2022 – Advent Three

“You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, (Psalm 30: 11, New Living Translation)

             One of my favourite songs is Charlie Chaplin’s poignant Smile. "Smile, though your heart is aching. Smile, even though it's breaking. When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by.”

             Some would understandably argue in this era of mental health awareness that one shouldn’t plaster over one’s feelings with a façade of superficial and insincere bearing.  We need to face our fears, worries, anxieties if we are to work our way back into health and well-being.

             Nevertheless, I am drawn to this song: “If you smile through your fear and sorrow. Smile, and maybe tomorrow You'll see the sun come shining through for you. Light up your face with gladness. Hide every trace of sadness Although a tear may be ever so near.”

             To me, it is about not giving up, not giving in.

Joy is the similar  spirit of resistance to the outrages in life. Not denial. Not sweeping bad things under the rug. Not pretending everything is hunky-dory.  Joy is the courage to confront our demons and hear the Sacred Laughter of the Holy Spirit assist us in the hard work of prevailing and finding victory.

Paul, of course, encouraged us to always be joyful, always rejoicing. If it was anyone but him, we might write him off as Pollyanna, a hyper-positive fool. But Paul knew severe sufferings and brutal hardships. We might think to ask how is it possible that he could maintain anything like a joyful spirit. Yet he prevails and clings to his joy which is in Jesus Christ.  “But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy.” (Philippians 2:17, NLT)

Jesus arrived with promises of joy. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.” (Luke 2: 10, NLT). Although the news of a birth usually puts smile on our faces, it may be hard to imagine how a birth of a baby boy to a peasant couple in the middle of nowhere is a joy to you or me. Advent is over in a blink of an eye and then we are back to the same old world with the same old problems, with the same old issues and difficulties. Joy seems fleeting at best.

                Yet this same Jesus made a promise, a commitment, an assurance: “So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy.” (John 16:22, NLT) Yes, some of this is heavenly destined, but it also a Joy that permeates the present. It is a Joy that dares to sacredly clear away the somber notes of sorrow, death, pain, suffering, despair and invites us to find a New Song of triumph, hope, peace, holy laughter, and wrap ourselves in the Joy of Love that God shares.

                "You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy.” (John 16:20, NLT)

                The Joy of the Love of God through Jesus Christ is what sustains us in crises, adversity, chaos, doubt and failure. It is finding a light-heartedness in the best sense of that word. It is a Joy which comes from remembering blessings, celebrations, relationships and successes. It is a Joy which comes knowing that you and I are loved by God, no matter what. It is a Joy which comes from being in the embrace of God’s Holy Laughter, God’s deep pleasure that we are God’s daughters and sons. We are not the brunt of God’s jokes, but the source of God’s Joy as God is of ours.

                “But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy.”  (Psalm 5:11, NLT)

                We know how this Holy Laughter culminates: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” (Revelation 21:4, NLT) But may we each catch some of this Joy today, finding it in the cracks and crevices of our daily living, bursting out of the dark, catching us unawares, showing up in the stables and straw in which we find ourselves.

                “That's the time you must keep on trying. Smile, what's the use of crying? You'll find that life is still worthwhile If you just smile”

Dale