An Altogether Joy

An Altogether Joy Psalm 30:1-5 During the Advent season, one of my favorite things is having all the Christmas movies on TV. The Home Alone movies, ELF, A Christmas Story, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, are some of my favorites. In all these entertaining movies, there is one common theme that most of us realize is happening but fail to grasp, and that is how some kind of problem occurs. But no matter what the problem is, there is always joy at the end. Probably one of the greatest Christmas classics is Charlie Browns Christmas. In Charlie Browns Christmas, Charlie Brown was having a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit. So Linus said, "Charlie Brown, you're the only person I know who can take a wonderful season like Christmas and turn it into a problem." Sadly, some Christians seem to have the same problem as Charlie Brown when we should be lifting up our Lord and Savior. That's why out of our 4 Advent Words, Peace, Hope, Love, and Joy, I like to celebrate Joy last. Some churches celebrate Joy on the third week and Love is celebrated last. And there is nothing wrong with that. But I've always found that as Christmas draws closer, celebrating Joy on our last week of Advent is a powerful witness to the meaning of Christ's coming. Our expectation rests and finds its climax in joy, which is the steadfast assurance that Immanuel is with us. Joy sometimes occurs alongside happiness and silliness. At other times joy can somehow grow amid difficulty and sadness. But joy is profound because it surpasses the fleeting feelings of happiness and sadness. An "almost joy," although powerful, will never remain. But An Altogether Joy can't be categorized and is almost incomprehensible. So, how do we go from an "almost joy" to An Altogether Joy? Well, I'm sad to say, if you're looking to experience Joy through the words of this sermon, you're looking in the wrong place. Joy cannot be talked about, studied, or manufactured. In the same way as you can't lick your own elbow, joy is not something you can achieve. An Altogether Joy is a gift. This steadfast assurance that God is with us is experienced as the unexpected fulfillment of anticipation. And what better time to ponder Joy than during this final week of Advent, just before we welcome Immanuel with us. Sometimes as Christmas draws near, we have to be reminded of Joy. The mixed emotions of both the Advent season and another year almost over can leave little room for Joy. But if you open the Gospel of Luke, it's filled with Joy. Luke even reveals that Joy is present even before Jesus is born. The first promise offered in Luke's Gospel is when Zechariah discovers that his wife, Elizabeth, who was barren her entire life, will have a child. This promise is found in Luke 1:14 and says, "You will have joy and gladness." But this wonderful promise of Joy is also met with disbelief, which caused Zechariah to lose his voice and become mute "until the day these things occur," as verse 20 says. At first glance, you might think that Zechariah not being able to speak is a punishment, but perhaps all of us could have more silence as Christmas approaches. Slowing down so we can leave room for Joy usually takes more listening than speaking. Maybe Zechariah's silence was not a punishment but rather a gift given by the angel so Zechariah could experience Joy as he anticipated his son's birth. Zechariah doubted the angel's words that Joy would be possible, so the angel said Zechariah would remain silent until his Joy would be fulfilled. Although there's no way to wrap this up, place it under the tree, or hang it from a stocking, sometimes silence is the very gift we need to experience Joy. Joy is usually thought of as a happy feeling, but this is not altogether correct. If you read ahead in Luke's Gospel, not long after the angel Gabriel visits Mary, she travels to visit Elizabeth, who is now pregnant with John. Luke 1:44 says that John "leaped for joy" in Elizabeth's womb. At first, this seems like gladness, but if you keep reading, you'll discover that the only other time you'll read the words "leap for joy" is when Jesus says in Luke 6:22-23, "Blessed are you when people hate you...leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven." It seems that John is not only leaping because of Jesus, but is also foreshadowing his own rejection at the hands of King Herod. Luke shows us how Joy came after silence and can even be experienced amid persecution. This is certainly far from what we typically think of as Joy during the Advent season. Joy can be happy and cheerful, but just thinking in terms of happy and cheerful is an "almost joy." With Christmas Eve drawing near, I get excited to sing my favorite Christmas hymn, "Silent Night." When we sing "Silent Night" by candlelight on Christmas Eve, the candles' soft flame and the warm words seem to cross every boundary and speak beyond people's petty differences. But there's another great hymn about joy that we also can't forget. It's Charles Wesley's hymn, "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing." The first verse of the hymn says: "Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled! Joyful, all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies; With the angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem." That first verse sets the tone for how John and Charles Wesley understood the nature of Joy: "God and sinners reconciled." For John Wesley, Joy and salvation go hand in hand. There is no Joy for people who feel there is no forgiveness. There is no Joy when people have no assurance of salvation. Without Joy there is not much to be thankful for, and that's because An Altogether Joy comes from knowing that God is near and that salvation is freely offered to all. "God and sinners reconciled," not just God and those people who do enough good deeds. "Joyful all ye nations rise," not just certain people but all people from every land are invited to proclaim Christ's birth. Whether it's a COVID Christmas or an average Advent season, everyone needs to remember that we are justified by grace through faith, which is An Altogether Joy. An "almost joy" is an emotion that's felt more so during Advent because of all the good deeds we can do. Buying people presents, sending Christmas cards to people so they know you remembered them, reading Advent devotionals, reciting the Christmas narrative in the Bible, giving a little extra in the offering plate, or placing your change in the Salvation Army bucket can make you feel good inside. And don't get me wrong; surrounding yourself with reading the Bible, devotionals, giving, and acts of service are all good things. But all those things only produce an "almost joy" because those feelings you get are short-lived. It's like sitting down to eat a fabulous Christmas dinner and getting stuffed, but soon wanting more. In your hunger for more, you raid the fridge for leftovers, and happiness comes as you eat those leftovers. But then, there comes a day when the leftovers are gone, and your emptiness seeks other sources for happiness. That's an "almost joy" because An Altogether Joy is not in food, but is nothing less than God's mercy, which is the Joy of heaven and earth! An Altogether Joy comes from encountering God's grace and mercy, not from those things we do leading up to Christmas. Studying, Serving, and Giving is the fruit of your joy, not the Joy itself. Joy is a gift and the culmination of our Advent celebration. Peace is a daily discipline that comes from God; Hope is a future destination as we look to God; Love requires unselfishness and is seen in God. But An Altogether Joy combines Peace, Hope, and Love while allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us. An "almost joy" is something that you can produce. Through presents under the tree, Christmas dinner being cooked, family coming together, and festive songs, people can see a glimmer of Joy. But after Christmas day is said and done and that old feeling like something is missing returns, it means the Joy you felt was not complete. God's grace is the only way to receive An Altogether Joy, and it remains after the presents are opened and the leftovers are gone! Philippians 4:7 says that joy "is the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding," because "joy comes in the morning" even when your eyes are used to the dark. During Advent, we travel closer to the manger, so make sure your souls are ready to receive the precious gift of Joy - the assurance that God in Jesus Christ is with us. Jesus Christ in the manger is the manifestation of this Joy. God is with us, but He also put on flesh and entered the world as a baby. God is with us, and because of that, Joy now has hands to bless, welcome, and comfort. But these hands will also be nailed to a cross because we wanted Joy on our terms. Joy now has feet to walk with flawed people. Feet that went to the people and were washed with tears. These feet will be bound and nailed to a cross because imperfect people run from punishment, but Christ didn't run and took our punishment upon Himself for our redemption. Joy now has a body - a body that hungers and thirsts. This body will be beaten and crucified but will overcome death and be raised the third day. Joy's body was made new and is timeless, promising that all generations will have the opportunity to find forgiveness and salvation in Christ. An Altogether Joy is timeless. Chris Wiman said it well, "To define joy as present tense is to keep it fastened to time, and that doesn't feel completely right. It might be truer to say that joy is a flash of eternity that illuminates time." Have you ever thought about Joy as a "flash of eternity?" I remember one week during my first year as pastor at Rocky Springs UMC, I simply couldn't think of a sermon to write. I had many good ideas, but as soon as I began to write, nothing. I prayed, spend silent time alone with God, read my Bible, and still nothing. There were times when I thought, "Oh well, I guess I'll just have to wing it come Sunday. That way the congregation can be just as surprised as I'll be at what comes out of my mouth." Needless to say, I was frustrated. Attempting to write a sermon, along with all my other work, it was piling up and leaving me with no time just to relax. I sat behind my desk at watched my two children play catch outside my window when it hit me. I was trying to write a sermon without living it. I quickly went outside, played catch with my boys, and the sermon ended up writing itself. Why? Because I had been illuminated by a "flash of eternity." Being outside with my two boys, nothing was more important. It was joyful and right where I needed to be. It's funny how Joy works that way. We can spend our time planning and preparing, but it remains an "almost joy" because just like with Advent, we can plan and prepare for Christ's birth, but at some point the planning and preparing must stop so we can be silent and be still in the Joy of Christ's birth. Jesus was born whether people were prepared or not, and Jesus is coming again whether people are ready or not. A "flash of eternity" can only appear when all of our temporary distractions have been silenced, and the Altogether Joy of Jesus Christ, born of the virgin Mary to redeem sinners, fills our hearts and minds. An Altogether Joy is a "flash of eternity" as we encounter God's mercy and realize our peace and hope are found in the assurance of Christ's steadfast love for us. This means that Joy can be received even in the midst of pain. It's easy to say that Joy is a happy feeling, but limiting Joy to just a happy feeling is an "almost joy." An Altogether Joy understands that Joy can be, and perhaps most appropriately, experienced even during times of pain. Joy is not a moment of time that nullifies your pain or dismisses it as meaningless. Rather, An Altogether Joy is the assurance that God is always with you, even during times of pain. Think of it like this: We all long for something more than what this world can offer, and that's to live in our heavenly home where we'll see God face-to-face and where there's no more tears, or sorrow, or pain. So, Joy can be understood as a homesickness for a home you haven't been to yet. That's why out of everything that could be said about Joy, I've chosen today's Scripture passage in the Psalms to help you understand the crucial aspects of Joy and what it means to receive An Altogether Joy. Written by David, Psalm 30:1-5 is an honest, heartfelt description of how Joy is a gift, and that this gift is often experienced during times of great sadness and despair. From the very beginning, David recognizes how we are in need of being "lifted up." Maybe David wrote this Psalm because he was suffering abuse. Maybe he took the role of a servant but forgot that being a servant is the greatest role. Maybe David was sinking because his own sins were pushing him down. We don't really know, but it also doesn't matter, because what matters is that it's God who does the lifting. "Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning" (Psalm 30:5). Weeping through the night makes time seem to stop. It makes it hard to breathe, your pulse goes faster, and your thoughts are consumed. Do you know what's interesting? It's interesting how there is so little about Christ's birth described in the Bible. Luke 2:6-7 says, "While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them." Luke has lots to say about the crucifixion, but when it comes to Christ's birth, Jesus isn't even named until He is presented in the temple 8 days later. How incredible would it be for Scripture to describe Christ's first breath, and to remind us that He is the Breath Of Life who breathed life into humanity back in Genesis! But the Bible is silent about how Jesus acted at His birth. But perhaps the birth of Christ wasn't as peaceful as "Away In A Manger" makes us think it was. "No crying He makes" might be true, but it's certainly not about peace. Any mother will tell you the panic they feel if their baby is born without any crying. My wife had a c-section with both of our boys, and I was able to be in the operating room with my wife. Seconds seem like hours until you hear the sound of your baby crying. Maybe the Bible is silent because all of creation was holding its breath until Jesus took His first and cried. If you find yourself weeping through the night like the psalmist and time seems to stand still, be reminded of Christ's birth and how it's a reminder that God will hold His breath with you. An Altogether Joy is the assurance that God is with you. Sometimes An Altogether Joy is also indescribable and goes beyond the steadfast assurance that God is with us. Have you ever tried to describe the indescribable? Last year, my youngest son asked me while I was driving him to school, "Dad, if a person is born death and blind, what language do they dream in?" "Uh...Good question, son." I had no idea how to answer that! For reasons such as that, sometimes it's just easier to describe what something is not. That was what John Wesley did in many of his sermons. For example, this is a United Methodist Church, so how would you describe the character of a Methodist? At first, you might be tempted to say a Methodist is someone who likes to sing, drinks a lot of coffee, and always brings a ton of food to church gatherings. As true as that may be, John Wesley says a Methodist is not someone of a singular opinion. A Methodist doesn't use any distinguishing words or phrases. A Methodist is also not a follower of Christ who reduces their faith to a particular cause. This doesn't mean Methodist's are boring, void of opinions, identifying words, or actions. Wesley is saying that a Methodist is not about resting upon words, causes, or opinions. So what is a Methodist? A Methodist is one "who has the love of God shed abroad in his heart. God is the Joy of his heart, and the desire of his soul." Wesley also says a Methodist "is someone who has hope, prays without ceasing, produces good fruit, is pure in heart, never speaks evil against their neighbor, and does good to all, all the time." A Methodist is a Christian, but it's dull to say that a Methodist is simply a Christian, and that's the point John Wesley was trying to make. If a Methodist is known for particular worship times, certain songs, certain clothes, certain greetings, or a certain language about grace, then our identity is found in something secondary to Christ. It's "Almost," but not "Altogether." Wouldn't it be a blessing to be able to explain your faith outside of the words used during Advent: Peace, Hope, Love, and Joy. That would mean that your faith and your expression of that faith would be one and the same, or as Lisel Mueller compares it to, "two parallel lines suddenly coming together." An Altogether Joy is the assurance that God is with you, which means that when Joy is rightfully experienced, it reveals that the line between Creator and creation is thin. An Altogether Joy occurs the moment you forget about yourself and embrace the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ, fully human and fully divine. That moment of Joy or "flash of eternity" is indescribable yet experienced, revealing to us that experiencing God and experiencing Joy are the same thing. That's why, out of our 4 Advent words, Peace, Hope, Love, and Joy, I find it fitting for Joy to be last because all that's left is to experience God. All the preparations and planning are over. And after all the Christmas songs are sung, the liturgies are read, and the sermons are over, the food is ate, and the presents are opened, all that remains is God in the flesh, the tangible presence of our assurance that God is with you. All that's left to do is to point to the manger. That's why Mary "treasured and pondered" all that happened on that "Silent Night." Nothing remains that needs to be done. An "almost joy" is loud and the feeling to fill that empty space with something - anything. An Altogether Joy requires nothing else. An Altogether Joy is the experience of Christmas, Jesus in the flesh, Immanuel, God with us. "Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King! Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled. Joyful, all ye nations rise, Join the triumph of the skies." There is nothing else we need to know. Peace, Hope, Love, and Joy be with you all. AMEN 2