Dear Friends,
Joy is not a word in our
everyday vocabulary. Sure, we say we enjoy someone or something. But we don’t
say “I feel joy in seeing you.” We say ”I’m happy to see you”. Are joy and happiness the same? What is joy,
anyway? Is it giddy delight? Belly-laughter?
Merry-making on New Year’s Eve? The
mood at tailgate parties? Euphoria over some particular achievement? These are
all good for us – but they are not joy. Joy is not the work of comedians or a
spontaneous response to an appealing moment.
Joy is a God-word . It is the keen awareness of the presence of God or
the coming of God in our life-journey. Isaiah 61.10 gives us a way of
naming joy: “I rejoice heartily in the
Lord, in my God is the joy of my soul.” Joy is a Christmas word, but not only a
Christmas word. It is a learned response that requires time, patience, and a
sustained effort. Ugh! Work! Yes, but
surprisingly light-hearted, light-filled work, work in which we become more clearly
who we are and we see more clearly who God in Jesus, the Incarnate Word, is for
us.
Joy grows in us over a lifetime.
The person who has learned joy gazes at,
walks in this splendid and at the same time wrecked-up world and sees God’s imprint on life and
nature.
Our biblical ancestors who
people our liturgical readings lived in times like ours –arduous times in which
they worked at their right relationships, and made every effort to be faithful
to the Lord. Like them, we are culturally enticed to seek outlets in evasion,
fantasy, fleeting pleasures, and activities that are superficial or
meaningless. We are invited by our times to believe that we are experiencing
joy when we experience these things. Possessing the newest car, the newest toy,
the world presumes, is equated with joy. But none of these things lead us to
the conviction that God is in love with
our world, and us.
Last weekend, in our churches
and homes, we lighted the rose-colored candle. It is unique on the Advent
wreath, reminding us that God is near, and that in finding God, we find a deep satisfaction in life that is “beyond rubies”, as our British friends would say.
A few days ago, at a local big
box outlet mall, I heard the energetic ringing of the Salvation Army bell. The
bell-ringer was a twenty something man who had broken his leg, I know not how.
Years ago, he had heard about how another young man had dealt with a similar
situation. This young man followed suit. Rather than sit around and mope, he festooned
his crutches with greens, berries and ribbons, and went out to encourage
people’s generous giving. You can believe he was collecting a lot of green in
his bucket!
Don’t try to think your way into
joy. It’s not a project. Don’t try program it, either. The experience of joy will
overtake us if we are open. Be lighthearted and spontaneous at
Christmastime. Deep joy and spontaneous fun don’t negate each other. Enjoy the
season. Look around you and see for
certain that God is in love with the world. We have great cause to rejoice.
~Joan Sobala, SSJ
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