January 29
Beloved of Good Shepherd Church
Grace to you and peace in Jesus Christ our Lord!
“It’s all for joy.” That’s what Jesus told his disciples shortly before he died. I have heard the same over and over again from people on their deathbed.
“Don’t forget to have fun.”
“Keep opening doors for love.”
“Find joy, do whatever you must to find joy.”
“If you’re not getting happier as you get older you’re messing up.”
“Always choose the path of peace, that’s where joy lives.”
Those are just a few of the pearls of hard won wisdom people I know have uttered just before they slipped from this life into the next. Each of those lines is a mirror image of what Jesus said in the farewell discourse which was, “I have said these things to you that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.”
What is joy? Joy is a state of being in which love is experienced as one’s source, sustenance, and sole motivation. The joy of Jesus is not dependent upon exterior circumstances. Gospel joy comes quietly upon you when you dare to believe that God’s love alone has the power to name you, claim you, and satisfy the deep longings of your life.
I experienced the strange gift of joy as I walked to church on Sunday morning in the snow. All was dark and quiet save the sound of the snow crunching gently under my feet. I had no idea who, if anyone, would show up for services. It didn’t matter. It’s fun to live close by and be able to walk over to open up the church and celebrate the eucharist while the city sits frozen and still in the brutal cold. 26 people wandered in and another 100 plus joined us on the livestream. There was a marvelous grace and lightness about the morning as volunteers rose from the pews to read and help administer communion. God conspired with the winter weather to draw forth people to serve in worship who hadn’t served before. It gave us all such joy to be together. Everyone was smiling so widely.
It gave me joy to know that most people stayed safely at home. And it will give me great joy when the ice thaws and hundreds pour through the church doors again.
What gives you joy? Where in your life does love both ground you and propel you causing you to smile as joy lightens your load?
It gives me joy to see you coming through the doors.
It gives me joy to make supper for my wife.
It gives me joy when my golden retriever puts her forehead against mine.
It gives me joy when you tell me what God is doing in your life.
It gives me joy to gather in silent prayer with friends.
It gives me joy to hear our angel choir soar to the heavens in song and take us all with them.
It gives me joy to find something in the Bible that I swear I’ve never seen before.
It gives me joy to bless babies at the altar rail.
It gives me joy to daydream about the construction of our parish hall.
It gives me joy to work with the leaders of our church to proclaim that Love is all.
It gives me joy when I manage to let go of my attachment to outcomes and allow the flow of God’s love to lead me through the gift of my own life.
It gives me joy to know you.
It gives me joy just to be alive no matter the weather.
Life, mine and yours, contains a lot of darkness, but it gives me great joy to remember that the love of Jesus always has the last word.
Life is for joy. What gives you joy?
Remember this always - God loves you, and I love you too!
Love is all,
Hendree+