An Advent Reflection on Joy
The Archdeacon of Llandaff Rhod Green, writes the third of four Advent reflections.
Christians have a lot to say about joy, especially at Advent. Just think about the Christmas story for a moment. The angel Gabriel appears to Mary and invites her to rejoice. (Luke 1:28) Mary visits the pregnant Elizabeth, whose baby leaps for joy in his mother’s womb. (Luke 1:41) In her song of praise, something we pray together everyday, Mary says, “My spirit rejoices in God my saviour.” (Luke 1:47)
We sing about it a lot too! It’s the central theme in two favourite carols. “Joy to the world”, we declare, “the Lord is come.” The response of the herald angels song of glory, peace and mercy is “Joyful all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies” as the angels proclaim the birth of Christ.
But it’s not just for Advent and Christmas.
Jesus promises his disciples that his joy will be in us, so that our joy may be complete. (John 16:20) Luke tells us in the Book of Acts that wherever the disciples went “there was great joy”. The newly baptised eunuch and Paul’s jailer both rejoiced as they encountered Christ for the first time. (Acts 8, 17).
It shouldn’t then be a surprise that one church in the London’s East End describes itself as “an explosion of joy!” It is, perhaps, the central emotion of the Christian faith.
But joy is a strange thing. It’s not a word we use that often. It feels a little archaic, as if it’s from another age. We certainly 'enjoy' the finer things of life'. Perhaps we feel that particular sports stars, or performers, are a 'joy to watch', but we feel more comfortable using words like happiness or pleasure. Somehow, they seem more straightforward. They make a bit more sense, at least on the surface.
Joy is different. We are, for example, commanded to rejoice. Repeatedly. Paul’s letter to the Philippians is shot through with joy. He concludes by exhorting them “rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say rejoice!” (Phil 4:4).
To make matters worse, we are not only commanded to rejoice, but to rejoice always! In his letter to the Romans Paul even says we “rejoice in our sufferings” as they produce endurance, character and eventually a hope that does not disappoint. (Romans 5:3) It doesn’t seem to matter how we feel or what we’re going through, there should be a bass note of joy constantly reverberating throughout our lives.
This can only be true if the source of our joy comes from beyond ourselves and our circumstances. In the face of the realities of grief and loss, of disappointment, injustice and unfairness, of pain and suffering, there is no way we can conjure up joy from within ourselves. Even to put on a brave face and smile as we are buffeted by the storms of life feels false and trite.
The first question of the Westminster Shorter Catechism asks, “What is the chief end of man?” The answer is “to glorify God and enjoy him forever.” This perhaps helps us make sense of the conundrum. How can we be honest about the reality of life as it is, and how that makes us feel, and yet rejoice? How can we be “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.” (2 Corinthians 6:10) The call surely is to enjoy God. He is the only one that can truly satisfy and delight, whatever it is that life throws as us. He is constant. He remains the same. He alone is ever faithful.
In his sermon, 'The Weight of Glory', C.S. Lewis famously said that we are far too easily pleased. Our desires are not too strong, but too weak. We enjoy created things; we find pleasure in the ephemeral rather than the infinite. As a result, we don’t seek true joy with anything like the resolve and passion we should. When these things are taken away, what joy we have goes with them.
In contrast, Jesus promised his disciples “I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.” (John 16:22). They found their joy in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Their joy was rooted in the grace and goodness of the God made flesh who had saved them and made them alive, and nothing could steal that joy away from them. Whatever our circumstances, may we know the joy of our salvation this Advent.