Thank you for joining us here at Resurrection Parish as we come to the final week of our Advent message series, “Unwrapping Christmas.” I know, I know; this is only the third week of Advent so next Sunday is the 4^th Sunday of Advent. Remember, we started this message series a week early, so it is ending a week early. But fear not, I will have a homily next weekend as well, it just will not be part of this message series.

In this series we have been talking about giving and that means it’s all about God. It all begins with God. God is a giver, and everything is ultimately a gift from him. At Christmas we celebrate that God gave us his very best, he gave us his Son. Perhaps the most famous line in all of Scripture sums it up best: “For God so loved the world he GAVE his only beloved Son” (John 3:16). Since God is a generous giver, to grow as followers of Christ means growth in giving.

The Third Sunday of Advent is traditionally called Guadate Sunday. It’s a reference to Scripture, St. Paul says in Thessalonians, “Rejoice always” (1 Thessalonians 5:16). It’s a theme he returns to elsewhere: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). Today, I want to look at joy, and, specifically, at giving people the gift of a joyful attitude this Christmas. 

Everyone enjoys pleasurable activities. Everyone wants to be happy, we try and hold onto it when we have it, and find ourselves disappointed or distraught when we lose it. Pleasure and happiness are great, they can even be blessings and rewards in our lives. God created pleasure and happiness and he created us to enjoy them. The problem is pleasure is a sensation, 

happiness is an emotion and as such, they are temporary.

Jesus came at Christmas and it had nothing to do with pleasure or happiness, that’s not what the angels promised. The angels promised: “Good news of great joy” (Luke 2:10). Beyond pleasure and happiness, God wants us to know and live in joy. Joy is only ever even possible because of the coming of Christ at Christmas. Over and over again Jesus underscores this very point: “These things I have spoken to you that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11).

Without joy we become modern day Pharisees, our faith becomes dry and stale. Lots of people have walked away from Christianity because of Christians…joyless Christians. Joyless Christians are all about obligations and observance, legalism and laws, religious rule keeping. If the Christianity you learned was devoid of joy then it was a false presentation, a corrupt interpretation of Christ’s message. He came to offer you the choice of joy.

There are plenty of mistakes and misconceptions when it comes to joy.

Sometimes we can think that we get joy from people. While people can certainly “bring us joy” nobody can sustain it in us because people come and go in our lives. When we count only on other people to be the source of our joy, it puts an unrealistic expectation on them that often leads to disappointment. Unmet expectation can also lead to conflict.

Sometimes we think that joy is a matter of personality But, high energy and humor are no more proofs of joy than a quiet and introverted personality is a sign of depression. Joy is not a matter of personality.

Sometimes we think it is a product/place/circumstance. If we just get into the right neighborhood or school or finally spring for that dream vacation and get away from it all, we’ll find our way to joy. Which we won’t. Where ever you go there you are: if you’re miserable here, you’ll be miserable there.

Joy, as we will be referring to it is at once a state of mind and a disposition of the heart. The prophet Isaiah tells us were we can reliably find joy. He writes, “I rejoice heartily in the Lord, in my God is the joy of my soul” (Isaiah 61:10). In other words, joy is a choice give to us by God.

Joy is a habit of the heart as well as a state of mind that is the fruit of a real and living relationship with the Lord. Look how Isaiah begins: “I rejoice heartily in the Lord” (Isaiah 61:10). It’s an act of worship. He continues: “For he has clothed me with a robe of salvation and wrapped me in a mantle of justice, like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem, like a bride bedecked with her jewels” (Isaiah 61:10). Isaiah says he finds joy in the Lord, especially in remembering what God has done for him.

You can have moments of happiness apart from God. Everyone knows you can have pleasure apart from God, but you can’t have joy apart from God. Joy comes from the Lord and it comes to us from choosing a personal relationship with him. It means moving God from a category or a class, to a Father who made us, a Son who saved us, and a Sprit who transforms us.

Of the gifts we have talked about throughout this series, joy is unique. You can only be one place at a time, so there is a limit to your gift of presence. You are limited in your financial resources so there is only so much you can give away. Joy is different. There’s no limit to it. 

We lose nothing by sharing joy. Sharing joy increases our joy. And, there’s more. You choose joy by sharing it. Joy is a choice and you choose it by sharing it.

Here’s just three things to think about this Christmas:

Choose joy by beginning in prayer. If it is not already your habit, make it your habit to pray, even just 5 or 6 minutes a day, each day between now and Christmas. Pray in gratitude for the gifts you have been given.

 

Choose joy by enjoying the people in your life. Focus on their good qualities and what you like and love about them. Remember the best and forget the rest. Don’t demand your way or what you want. Go along with others plans. Be adaptable. 

Choose joy, in the hectic days ahead by not taking yourself too seriously. Determine not to be anxious or upset. Don’t rush, don’t break the speed limit, don’t run red lights. Laugh at yourself instead. Don’t dwell on disappointments. Let your heart be light.

Jesus came into the world to bring joy, and he invites his followers to do the same. Joy is crucial not just to Christmas but to the whole of the Christian life. If you cultivate joy in your heart, if you set your mind on it, it can heal any hurt, overcome any obstacle, and provide a remedy for any pain.

Joy is the simplest and most complete form of gratitude.