9. AN ADVENT AMONG OTHER THINGS: JOY IN CHRIST

Sunday, December 15th

(For my spiritual practice in this week of Joy, I plan to sit and savor a refreshing glass of sparkling water or a mug of hot tea each afternoon.)

I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10b)

Perhaps we choose Christ because we see doing so as the right way. We want to do the right thing and be the right kind of people. What does Jesus want? Our joy. Our experience of an abundant, fulfilling life. Becoming better people is merely a byproduct of dwelling in the love of God. ¹ ~ Vanita Hampton Wright

What a gift this is, what a relief it is, to know that Jesus wants us to have a life that is abundant and full of joy. So often, I get the order reversed. I desire to please and obey God so that I will receive God’s joy and mercy, when the reality is that God’s joy and mercy come to me first–so I then can live my life in joyful trust with God’s continuing guidance. My life of discipleship is a “byproduct of dwelling in the love of God.”

Jesus also invites us to experience joy with his invitation in John 16: “Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.” In this topsy-turvy life, we are never left alone. We have God’s presence in Christ always with us, the presence that comforts, strengthens, guides, listens, and hears our every prayer.

We can even ask for joy itself. In his book, The Hidden Adventure, the late Tim Hansel shared a story about an 82-year-old pastor who struggled with painful skin cancer. After enduring fifteen operations, he was in chronic pain, and he was also embarrassed by the way his appearance had been scarred. One day, as he doubted Tim’s example of choosing joy despite his circumstances, he read in John 15:11 that joy is a gift from Christ: I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

“A gift!” he thought. He didn’t know what to do, so he got down on his knees. Then he didn’t know what to say, so he said, “Well then, Lord, give it to me.”
And suddenly, as he described it, this incredible hunk of joy came from heaven and landed on him.
“I was overwhelmed,” he wrote. “It was like the joy talked about in Peter, a ‘joy unspeakable and full of glory.’ ” And before he knew it, he was dancing around the house. ²

This week, may we keep the joy of Christ in our hearts, the joy we might have just for the asking.

        

¹ Wright, Vanita Hampton. Small Simple Ways: An Ignatian Daybook for Healthy Spiritual Living. 2019 Loyola Press. (Page 147)
² Hansel, Tim. The Hidden Adventure: The Remarkable Things Ordinary People Can Do When They Let God Use Them! Copyright (c) 1987, Guideposts Edition. (Originally published as Holy Sweat)
Photo by Karen

You might enjoy reading the rest of Tim Hansel’s excerpt:

He (the 82-year-old pastor) just had to get out. So much joy couldn’t stay cooped up. So he went out to the local fast-food restaurant and got a burger. A lady saw how happy he was, and asked, “How are you doing?”
He said, “Oh, I’m wonderful!”
“Is it your birthday?” she asked.
“No, honey, it’s better than that!”
“Your anniversary?“
“Better than that!”
“Well, what is it?” she asked excitedly.
“It’s the joy of Jesus. Do you know what I’m talking about?”
The lady shrugged and answered, “No, I have to work on Sundays.”

Isn’t that the way it is? We’ve limited the idea of an exciting Christianity to one day of the week! Yet this man was living proof that change can produce a joy that spreads out over all the days of our lives, and it can happen during any season or circumstance of life. (Page 59)