Joy to the world! Third Advent.

On Sunday 13 December 2015 we will light the pink candle of joy in church as our call to worship the Lord.  I am preparing a sermon on how Advent and Christmas joy should be part of our celebrations and excitement about the coming of the Kingdom of God through our lives and testimony as children of God, in Christ.

But I find it hard to focus on joy and gladness right now!  Deep concerns about the way our country’s finances is managed, the plummeting of confidence and of hope that our politicians will be wise and good in handling anger and despondency as a result of poverty and hunger, inequality and corruption – and many other issues - cloud my vision of a congregation passionately singing “Joy to the world, the Lord is come”, with sincerity!

While the drought is diminishing any hope of providing food security and irresponsible wasteful spending by apparently apathetic leaders overshadows one’s contemplation of Christmas cheer and gospel-joy, it is hard to look deep enough into the gospel to find the meaning of the “good news of great joy” the angels sang when Christ was born.

So why does the expected level of joy during this season seem to be absent from my heart and from the lives of many around me? Why do these endless concerns dominate so much of our thinking, leaving little time or energy for reflecting on the good and kind nature of God and the coming of his Kingdom in the world?

The much loved hymn that proclaims “joy to the world” encourages “every heart to prepare him room”. My struggle to allow godly joy to excite me must be because I haven’t comprehensively considered why I’m called to such (supernatural) joy.

Do I truly realize who God is? Do I comprehend the love shown by him coming from heaven and living among us in poverty for 33 years, giving his life for us on the cross that we could live with him in heavenly riches forever?

Do I truly see that despite my fleeing from God because I live in selfish decadence, he still came to seek and to forgive me at the cost of his suffering and death? Because if I earnestly did, my heart would prepare him room and find rest in the profound peace and joy that we sing about during this Season.

If I in faith saw God’s love and compassion as proven and illustrated by my Lord’s sacrifice and pain, concerns would not have impaired my convictions and cheer by trying to carry all these burdens that saddens me so much.

I really can do very little, if anything, to dry the many tears from countless eyes. But then, I do not rule the world with truth and grace. I do not have all power and authority in heaven and earth!

No, Jesus “rules the world with truth and grace …” as the hymn so boldly claims.

So I pray for myself and all my brothers and sisters that our Lord deepens and enlightens our understanding of Christmas, of the birth of the Son of God and I pray to understand the profound message of great joy the angels sang when he was born!

I admit I have been too focused on my own concerns and fears to prepare my heart to fully receive Jesus during this festive time. I have not done what I should have, to prepare room for the joy the Word promises to those who are in Christ Jesus!

“O God, help me to lay all my concerns at your feet, and in your mercy, open my troubled heart to make room for godly reflections on the grace you have in stall for me, freeing my mind to believe what Jesus has done for me and to fully and unconditionally receive my Lord’s intended Advent Joy and Christmas cheer.

O my God, grant me insight and faith that I can proclaim your eternal joy under even the harshest challenges and remain happy because you love me and all who receive your Gospel of forgiveness, release and power! Amen.”