Embracing Joy this Advent

St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

What brings you joy? Is there a hobby you like to do, maybe baking or cooking or eating? Perhaps watching movies or TV shows, listening to music or making music? What brings you joy? Time with family and friends? Getting presents? Giving presents? Decorating the house for the holidays? What brings you joy?

For many of us, joy is important. We like it, of course, but joy is seen as a bonus. It is dessert after dinner. It is secondary to the weightier matters of life that are pressing down upon us. Joy is a welcome distraction from the challenges we face in life, and sometimes we feel guilty for indulging in joy when there are more important things for us to deal with.

But Scripture, as we hear today, has a different understanding of joy. We hear Paul talk of joy in the Epistle we just heard. He talks about offering gratitude to God in his prayers every day with joy. This comes at a time when Paul has been imprisoned, he has a lot of weighty matters pressing down on him, and yet he makes time every day to engage in a practice of joy.

In the reading we heard from Baruch, it talks about God leading with joy. What does it look like to lead with joy? What would it look like if the political leaders of this world lead with joy? I think we might have a slightly different world if they did that.

God has a different understanding of joy than as a secondary bonus or a distraction. For God, joy is central. Joy is what God made us to do. God takes great pleasure when we are enjoying this great creation that God made. God made us out of joy for joy. God leads with joy. Joy is not a distraction from the weightier matters of our lives, joy is the weighty matter of life. How do we find joy, and how do we help others find joy in this life? Joy is central to who we are and what God wants for us.

In the Gospel reading today we hear of John the Baptist. Luke says John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way of the Lord. In the Gospel there is a quote from Isaiah that says John will be the one to prepare the way. We also heard of John in the Canticle, The Song of Zechariah. Zechariah is John the Baptist’s dad, and after John was born, Zechariah sang this song. He said, you, my child, meaning John, will be called the Prophet of the Most High for you will go before the Lord to prepare His way.

I think John is a person who concerned himself with the weightier matters, and perhaps he doesn’t always come across as the most joyful of prophets or saints. But I do think that Scripture is leading us to prepare for joy, and to prepare in joy. I don’t think of joy when I think of John, and yet it does say that the whole point of John’s preparation is to shine light and to bring peace. Doesn’t joy shine light and bring peace?

During this Season of Advent, we are called upon to prepare for the way of the Lord like John the Baptist. Prepare our hearts and minds to welcome Christ at Christmas, and prepare our hearts and minds to welcome Christ in our lives each and every day. These readings are reminding us that we can do that with joy. It is not just a secondary auxiliary matter, but the central one.

So, my friends, during this Advent season I encourage you to prepare in and with and for joy. Take some time this week to think about what it is that brings you joy, and how it is that you bring joy to others. In this world that is so desperately in need of light and love, what would it look like if we started leading with joy with all those with whom we meet, and we brought joy to them? Take this time to focus on joy, not as something as a bonus that you get after all the chores are done, but as central to the question itself.

AMEN.