Joy December 16, 2012 Third Sunday of Advent, Year C Philippians 4.4-7

Joy

December 16, 2012

Third Sunday of Advent, Year C

Philippians 4.4-7

            N. T. Wright asserts that the key term of first century Judaism was “hope”: The Jewish people looked forward to something that God would do. The key term for Christianity, Wright says, was “joy”: Christians looked back to something God had done.

Devout Jews hoped in a coming Messiah; Devout Christians rejoiced in a risen one.

            That joy pervades Paul’s pen in the little thank-you note of Philippians. The apostle peppers his prose with terms for joy: He “joy” in some form fifteen times and even throws in a synonym on two more occasions for a whopping total of seventeen references in a letter of 104. On average, Paul stops to rejoice about once every six verses!

            Two things about this festivity: It is public, and it is secure. Paul calls for a public rejoicing. While we usually hear his mandate for mirth as a call to private joy, his world would have heard it in terms of public celebration. Paul calls for public parties of praise where all can see the church’s victory in Christ. Paul offers a secure rejoicing: The word for “guard” in verse seven conjures the image of a squadron of soldiers standing sentry duty over a treasure chest. Christian joy is not some sloppy self-hypnosis: Steady prayer imparts a peace that makes rejoicing real.

            But don’t miss verse five, with its whispered reminder about a gentle spirit. Chauvinistic celebration often steamrolls those left silent by grief. In the spirit of the Christ who never broke a bruised reed and who nurtured the guttering flame of even the smokiest wick, let us deal out our joy in doses appropriate to the patient.

I Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down in My Heart,

Doug