In the opening chapters of the Gospel of Luke, the story of Jesus’s birth is seasoned with expressions and expectations of joy. Zechariah is visited by an angel promising the birth of a son, John the Baptist, who will be a “joy and delight” to him and he will bring rejoicing to many. John leaps for joy in his mother’s womb when she heals the sound of Mary’s voice. Mary then expresses her joy through song, saying her spirit rejoices in God. At the birth of John, their neighbors gathered to share in their joy. Finally, joy is last mentioned with the first people to hear the good news of the birth of the Messiah. The group of “nobodies” called shepherds were living in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks. An angel appeared and the glory of the Lord shone around them. These “nobodies of Bethlehem” got to hear the words every Jew had been longing to hear for hundreds of years, “I bring good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of Davis a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord” (2:10-11).
The third Sunday of Advent focuses on Joy. When our hope rests in what God has done, is doing, and will do in the world then we can rest and find joy in every circumstance. Joy is a hard concept to understand and often gets mistaken for happiness. Happiness is often dependent on positive situations, things, and all going well. Joy is much deeper and shines through even in the worst of circumstances. Our culture is obsessed with, what our founding fathers call, “the pursuit of happiness.” But this pursuit has left us with a self-centered and shallow culture that chases the next big thing to make us happy. We live in a culture that desperately needs examples of joy that is rooted in something deeper than trivial happiness. Our culture needs a people rooted in hope to show them what pure joy looks like no matter what goes on in the world.
Joy is a muscle that is developed, not by focusing on having joy per se, but by focusing on others and developing other virtues in your life to bring about joy. Joy comes from gratitude, humility, reframing situations to see other perspectives, and compassion to name a few. When we develop a life focused on others, we are more capable of resting with joy because we do not see others as responsible for our happiness.
The shepherds were going about their life, sleeping in a field, when the reason for joy was shone around them. How was their life changed from that moment forward? They went back to sleeping in their fields in their low status in their culture. But how was their life different from that moment forward? How does receiving the good news of Jesus’s coming bring you to a place of joy? How does this good news reshape everything in your life? Have you allowed it to reshape everything in your life?
“The joy of the Lord is your strength” – Nehemiah 8:10
“Always be joyful. Always keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” – Philippians 4:4-9
Try something for me this week. End each day by reflecting on the events throughout the day. Give thanks for every good thing that happened. Examine the not so good things that happened and ask God where you can give thanks for those situations.
End your time with prayer:
“Father, you are my hope. I hope in what you have done in the past, are doing right now, and will do in the future. You are the God of all things and are in control. Let me hope be in nothing else. From this hope, grow in me the joy I need in every circumstance so that the world will see that my hope is built on nothing other than Jesus Christ. Change my life with the joy you sent in the world through Jesus Christ. Amen.”