Shout with joy to the LORD, all the earth;
break into song; sing praise.
Sing praise to the LORD with the lyre,
with the lyre and melodious song. With trumpets and the sound of the horn
shout with joy to the King, the LORD.
Let the sea and what fills it resound,
the world and those who dwell there. Let the rivers clap their hands,
the mountains shout with them for joy,
Before the LORD who comes,
who comes to govern the earth,
To govern the world with justice
and the peoples with fairness.
(Psalm 98:4-9)
In 1719, Isaac Watts, an English Congregational minister and hymn writer, inspired by this psalm, composed “Joy to the World”, the now well-known Christmas Carol.
C.S. Lewis, speaking of joy, said, “Joy…must be sharply distinguished both from Happiness and Pleasure. Joy…has indeed one characteristic, and one only, in common with them; the fact that anyone who has experienced it will want it again… I doubt whether anyone who has tasted it would ever, if both were in his power, exchange it for all the pleasures in the world.”
The modern world, with all its innovations, diversions, and pleasures, seems strangely joyless.
St. Luke tells us in his Gospel story of the nativity of Jesus that the angels told the shepherds, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord…”
Please note, not good news of great happiness nor good news of great pleasure, but good news of great joy!
Curiously, joy can coexist with pain, with fatigue, with confusion, with difficulties, with fear, with rejection, even with suffering and with death.
The angels’ good news of great joy was for all people, not just for Mary and Joseph, for the shepherds, for the wise men (Magi), for the children of Israel, for the future followers of the newly born child.
It still remains good news of great joy for you, for me, for everyone. But, again, it is good news of great joy, not necessarily of great pleasure, happiness, contentment, ease, or satisfaction.
Joy is something stronger, deeper, more powerful, more lasting. If you’ve ever tasted it, you know what I mean; if you never have, it’s a word that refers to your deepest hunger, yearning, and life search.
I’m no expert on joy.
I’ve had moments of indescribable feelings of joy in my life, but not often. I also have had, in spite of so many things to the contrary, a sort of deep strength and fundamental contentment about my life in spite of its many challenges, failures, and successes. This, too, is a kind of joy.
The message of the angels is still a powerful pointer for each of our lives. Don’t forget it and don’t fear it. But, it’s not a recipe for happiness and pleasure; it probably won’t resolve or respond to your every question, doubt, fear, or yearning.
Remember, Jesus was born in a stable, far from home, and when he was still only a few days old his parents had to flee with him to a foreign country (Egypt) to escape his certain death.
In the midst of life’s worst challenges, you too can have and be strengthened by joy!
5 February 2023