In the name of the one who creates us, loves us, sustains us…
Jesus says … “abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you” So often we overlook the joy Jesus brings to us …we are focused on his difficult and controversial conversations, his important healings, his sacrifice…It all seems very serious… But when I was in seminary I wrote a paper on Joy in the presence of Jesus - and through the continuing work of the Holy Spirit. Joy in the presence of Jesus begins when he is still in the womb… when John the Baptist jumps for joy in Elisabeth’s womb when Mary comes to visit her. Mary herself rejoices at the news of Jesus which we hear in the Magnificat. “My soul magnifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” Joy in the presence of Jesus is found throughout the gospels… and now that we are traveling through Acts, Joy is found throughout the healing work of the disciples through the Holy Spirit! This "command" to love one another is not disciplinary. It is about finding true Joy - and "joy complete" as Jesus describes… Love explicitly expressed through Joy: the love of our children, the love of one another, the love of stranger, the love of God living through us. We know what joyful children are like. They are usually engaged, sharing …in play, or collaborating on a project. We adults are not so different than they are! But we get caught up in being “grown up” - busy with agendas and time constraints and we forget the joy that comes from being present to one another…. This is why Jesus calls his disciples "little children" because we need to be reminded to have a beginner's mind and a beginner's heart for "joy complete.” To have a beginner’s heart and mind is to be present to our surroundings - to the little things in life - and to others without a jaded perspective. Today in Acts, the disciples and the other Jewish believers are So overcome with the Gentile expression of extolling God - praising and rejoicing - that Peter baptizes them on the spot! He is so excited for them - and seeing the Holy Spirit working in them! On a personal note one of the very special things about Craig - was that he was joyful. Not just that - he was so enthusiastic about his friend’s successes. I have never met someone who could get so excited about the projects his friends were engaged in. He told me all about them - And he told them! He let them know they were doing something good and important - and he was excited for them. It was such a life-giving quality that he shared…. And a true abiding with the joy of God - who creates us to rejoice in the World. Now that we have learned vital lessons about surviving into adulthood - we can let some of our preconceived notions about the World wane. They are not always true actually - and in new circumstances we can simply be projecting onto other people. We aren’t going to lose anything by opening up our hearts. We are going to gain the World. As John says in his first letter, “”…This is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.” The very first time Jesus sends out the disciples… They return from healing the sick and casting out demons! And we are told, Jesus jumped with joy! He literally spins around in exultant praise at their success. To quote Kate Bush: “Jesus must have had a beautiful smile.” Remembering to have Jesus’ joy in us as we experience the successes of others is vitally important to our growth in community - our unity - and our abiding in the love of God. We are in a joy soaked universe if we can do as Jesus says, and let his joy be in us. In our study of the outline of faith - we’ve been delighted to re-read that we belong to a universe that is good - the next line asks… What does that mean about our place in the universe? what this means - and I quote: “the world belongs to its creator, and that we are called to enjoy it” Today the psalm speaks of nature itself rejoicing Let the rivers clap their hands, * and let the hills ring out with joy before the Lord…" Joy is not relegated simply to Christ’s birth narratives… joy eternal is meant for Easter and for us … Complete joy is to know that Jesus’ joy is in us, even as we struggle. It is foundational to our charism as Christians. It is foundational to our relationships. Maintaining joy is not always easy. That’s why it is so helpful to remember that God is working inside us. Lean into that idea that Jesus’ joy may sustain you through the tough times. This passage from John is actually happening during that Gospel’s version of the Last Supper. There isn’t a Eucharist, as in the other three Gospels. Instead, there is this long teaching about abiding in God’s love… And Jesus explaining that he is sending us the Holy Spirit. Even on this frightening evening - the joy that Jesus has is not extinguished. To have Christ’s joy is not to always be "happy go lucky”… to stick our heads in the sand about what is going on in the World…but rather to have a true sense that all shall be well - and all things shall be well - As St. Theresa of Avila said. That stance allows us the joy of being in the moment - working through the moment with the assuredness of our ultimate place in the universe. Some of us use the mantra: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Sometime you might try: “I can do all things through Christ who rejoices in me.” Teach the children that joy is foundational to our faith - to being a Christian - to being human. We adults have got this; we can handle things pretty well... so now, let's “let go” a bit - and let Jesus' joy in us fill our activities… our interactions, and Jesus calls it “the lamp of our eye!” From our Eucharistic Prayer D, let us pray: Fountain of life and source of all goodness, you made all things and fill them with your blessing; and you created them to rejoice in the splendor of your radiance. we acclaim you, and glorify your Name. Amen!
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AuthorThe Rev. Heather K. Sisk Archives
July 2024
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WE ARE ALL MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD |
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