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The theme for this Advent season at Lakewood United Church of Christ is JOY to the World. Each day during the Advent season, a reflection on a scripture passage related to JOY will be posted. We hope these daily reflections help you to have a joy-filled Advent.

“Who among you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, doesn’t leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and search for the lost one until it’s found? And finding it, you put the sheep on your shoulders in jubilation. Once home, you invite friends and neighbors in and say to them, ‘Rejoice with me! I’ve found my lost sheep!’ I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent.
“What householder, who has ten silver pieces and loses one, doesn’t light a lamp and sweep the house in a diligent search until she finds what she had lost? And when it is found, the householder calls in her friends and neighbors and says, ‘Rejoice with me! I’ve found the silver piece I lost!’ I tell you, there will be the same kind of joy before the angels of God over one repentant sinner.”
Luke 15:4-10

When we think of someone who is happy, who has a good life, maybe we are thinking about someone who has not screwed her/his life up. We may think of people who have done things right. People who have not had a lot of big problems or heart ache or trouble. If this were the prerequisite for joy, we could hardly sing, “Joy to the world” with much gusto because, truly, most people, most of us, have faced hardship and problems in life, largely of our own making.

Centuries ago, in the church Advent was referred to as the “little Lent.” Lent is the season of 40 days before Easter, not including Sundays. It is a somber season of repentance – returning to God. Advent, the season beginning the fourth Sunday before Christmas and lasting four weeks was also a time of repentance. It was a time to spiritually cleanse and prepare for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. It was also a somber, reflective time.

These days, we don’t put as much stress on repentance in Advent. We think more about watching and waiting and paying attention so that we appreciate the gift we are given at Christmas. But the stories above tell us that repentance and joy go together. Having made a mistake, taken the wrong path, having strayed from God, having drifted from the values of the Gospel, these things do not prevent joy. Our wrongs do not permanently deprive us of joy. In fact, coming around, finding our way back, making things right, this is the source of the greatest joy we can know.

It can be easy to fall into groveling in a sense of unworthiness, despair, and self-pity. Maybe you can think of a time you have felt that way. But Advent is a season of JOY. And repenting, turning in a new direction, pursuing reconciliation may be the greatest joy we can know.

To bring more joy to yourself, to God, and to the world, may take some repenting. Do not be afraid. Greater joy awaits! Take some time to think about how you may more closely align your life with the way of Jesus Christ. Can you make a commitment to pursuing transformation and change in your life? Ultimately, this kind of repentance will result in greater joy.

Prayer
We pray for the openness to admit our wrongs, our failings, our mistakes, and our weakness. May our vulnerability and honesty lead to the healing of our souls. May we not be afraid to repent, for with repentance comes great JOY. Amen.

The theme for this Advent season at Lakewood United Church of Christ is JOY to the World. Each day during the Advent season, a reflection on a scripture passage related to JOY will be posted. We hope these daily reflections help you to have a joy-filled Advent.

Then Nehemiah the governor and Ezra the priest and scribe, along with the Levites, instructed the people, saying to all of them, “This day is holy to the Most High, your God. Do not mourn. Do not weep” – for the people all had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.
Nehemiah continued, “Go now and enjoy rich food and sweet wine, and be certain that you send a share to those who cannot provide for themselves, for this day is holy to Yahweh. Let no one be sad, for Yahweh’s joy is your strength.”

Nehemiah 8:9-10

This scripture passage is part of the story of the restoration of the Temple and the restoration of the relationship between the Jewish people and God. In the process of restoring the physical structure of the Temple, now used to worship many gods, not just Yahweh, the scroll of the Law is found. This scroll contains the essential writings of the Jewish religion, the Torah. When the scroll is found, it is read out loud, and the people hear how far they have strayed for God’s way. They are devastated. This is the reason for the references to weeping and mourning. Now that they are aware of their betrayal, they repent and recommit themselves to their relationship with their God, Yahweh.

In this context, we see the phrase, “for Yahweh’s joy is your strength.” One way to look at this is that God’s joy gives the people strength. They do not need to be strong by themselves. They can count on God for strength. They do not have to face the restoration of the Temple, of their life as a community, and of their relationship with God, on their own. They can count on God for the strength they need to make this transition and transformation. God’s joy at their discovery and recommitment will empower the people to follow through and make things right.

When we look at it this way, we see that the joy of God strengthens us, motivates us, helps us. When we do the right thing, even belatedly and in difficult circumstances that we have created, God is joyful and that joy gives us the strength to carry on.

We can also see these words, “for Yahweh’s joy is your strength” from another perspective. We can also infer that the strength of the people is making Yahweh joyful. The people’s strength is the source of God’s joy. God is joyful because the people are exhibiting strength. They have found the scroll and are taking matters in hand and trying to set things right. This brings joy to God. They could have found the scroll and thrown it out without reading it. It could have been kept classified by the leaders who then let things go on as they were, not wanting to admit wrong (sound familiar?). They could have found the scroll, looked at it, and then decided to ignore it and go on as they were. But instead, the scroll is shared and the leaders and people ask for forgiveness, repent, and seek to redeem themselves. This choice shows strength of character and security. It does not evidence undo pride or arrogance. It conveys humility and sincerity. It is a response of strength. So the writer can declare, “Yahweh’s joy is your strength.”

I don’t know enough Hebrew to know if these two views have validity in the original language, but from the way the verses have been translated and passed on in English, I think we can see these two different perspectives. On reflection, I don’t see one as right and one as wrong. I think they both have validity. There is a mutuality to the two views together. Our strength of character, our choosing the higher moral ground, our redeeming ourselves in the wake of the problems we have created, this brings joy to God. We can influence and impact the joy of God with our strength.

I also like the idea that God’s joy, God’s delight, can give us strength and enable us to make the right choices. When we align ourselves with God’s joy, we have the power to do what we need to to be in right relationship with ourselves, one another, and God, however conceived and defined.

We can look at this as God’s joy giving us strength, and our strength giving God joy. Both/and. I like this mutuality and interdependence. And I like the idea of associating joy and strength. I think we can let the concept of joy devolve into sentimental sweet feelings, and miss the strength, tenacity, and power involved. Take a moment to think about how you exhibit strength in your life, or how you see strength in the people or circumstances around you. Do you see joy there, too? Think about where you see joy, and notice if there is strength there, too?

Prayer
In this season of JOY to the world, may we see how joy and strength intertwine. May we notice our ability to foment joy and to promote strength. May we celebrate the strength and joy that we experience in the living of these precious days. Amen.

The theme for this Advent season at Lakewood United Church of Christ is JOY to the World. Each day during the Advent season, a reflection on a scripture passage related to JOY will be posted. We hope these daily reflections help you to have a joy-filled Advent.

My greatest source of joy is to hear that my children live by the truth.
3 John 4

In thinking about the many funerals and memorial services I have been to over the years, I have never heard someone say about the deceased, “I am thankful for the car he gave me.” Or, “I will never forget the boat she gave me for my birthday.” Or, “I will always remember him for the football he gave me.” At a memorial for someone who has died, we generally remember the values and morals and character strengths of the person. We share these through stories and remembrances. These are the things that we have received from the friend or loved one that mean the most. We don’t usually reflect in an ultimate manner on material things given, but on life lessons and values shared.

When older people express worries about their children or grandchildren, they are often not too concerned with how they are making it materially, but are questioning their values, morals, relationships, and attitudes. Often the concern is about character. The parents and grandparents worry that they have not successfully passed on their values to the next generations.

In the verse above from the third letter of John, the writer expresses great joy that these new Christians, referred to as children because they are young in their faith, are living by the truth. What the writer is grateful for and joyful about is that the values and morals and character traits that are important to him are being passed on. The new believers are living according to the commonwealth of God. They have a new vision of reality. This is a source of great joy, in fact, the greatest joy, to the writer of the letter.

In this season of gift giving, it is a time to think about what we give to each other. What we share. What we pass on from generation to generation. This verse reminds us that the greatest joy may come from values, insights, world view, and character that are given and shared, rather than from material things.

Think about what is important to you. Think about your core values. Think about how you came to appreciate them. How did you learn about them? Who shared them with you? These are gifts that you have received from others, and they should be a source of great joy. More joy than any kitchen gadget, toy, or jewelry that you have received as a gift.

So as Christmas approaches, take joy in remembering those from whom you have learned the truth that you live by. Consider the joy of sharing that truth with others. Be the example that you wish to see in others. Live by the truth, and you will know joy!

Prayer
In this season of shopping and gift giving, may we remember that the most important gifts exchanged are values, morals, and the truth of our living. May we open ourselves to receiving truth from others. May we share our truth. So may our joy increase! Amen.

The theme for this Advent season at Lakewood United Church of Christ is JOY to the World. Each day during the Advent season, a reflection on a scripture passage related to JOY will be posted. We hope these daily reflections help you to have a joy-filled Advent.

The realm of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in joy goes and sells everything and buys that field.
Matthew 13:44, adapted

This is a beautiful image of the worth and value of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The new reality that Jesus images for us is of vast worth. But what we also see in this verse, brief but heavily laden with meaning, is the significance of joy. Joy motivates the person to sell everything. Joy compels the person to give up all material possessions. Every single thing. Not some. Not half. Not most. All. One version tells us, “he goes and sells all that he has.” Another version tells us, “went and sold all their possessions.” The person who is drawn in by the gospel experiences joy; such great joy, that it motivates this drastic action, the selling of all possessions. Here we see joy as a very powerful force. It is so powerful that it leads to what can be considered radical, really unreasonable, behavior.

In this holiday season, we sing songs about joy and send cards with messages of joy. But how much difference do we expect joy to make in our lives? Do we simply expect a warm feeling of well-being? When we send a Christmas card proclaiming “JOY to the World” are we associating this with drastic, radical, extreme behavior as we see in the verse above from Matthew?

Maybe we have dumbed down joy, to a ho ho ho holly, jolly sentiment to be associated with hot chocolate and mistletoe. The birth of Jesus bringing JOY to the World is meant to be so much more powerful than that. It is meant not only to be life changing, but to be world changing. Experiencing more joy this holiday season may lead to strange, extreme behavior. Are you ready for a joy-full Advent-ure?

Prayer
We pray for Joy to the World this Advent season. May we recognize the power of joy to motivate and compel drastic life changing actions. May we embrace the transforming potential of joy. Help us not to be afraid of being joy-full, whatever that may lead to! Amen.