The traditional method of naming Advent candles would symbolize
this Sunday’s candle for joy. The readings shift to anticipation of the birth
of Jesus, and the response is joy. In Latin it was called Gaudete Sunday. It
comes from Phil 4: rejoice in the Lord always.
The priest was permitted to lighten the mood with rose colored
vestments, and a pink candle was selected for this day.
“I don’t think of all the misery, but of the beauty that
still remains.”- Anne Frank
Not easy to be joyful. Joy is part of the fruit of the
spirit (Gal5:22). I freely admit that joy is well-hidden in my spiritual and
emotional life. I have little patience with those who make the aesthetic point
that joy is n known as the opposite of
pain and suffering. I do grasp that some can experience joy in the midst of
suffering, not as a point of comparison but holding conflicting emotions in
inner tension. It is difficult to write a story purely attempting to describe a
joyful countenance or situation.
At this time of year, I move into the “Christmas spirit” by listening
to a variety of Christmas music. For our purposes classics such as Joy to the
World or God Rest Ye, and newer works such as Mary Chapin Carpenter’s Come
darkness, co me Light.. I find pleasure in reading stories of Christmas, especially
illustrated Christmas stories such as ”The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan
“Toomey” or “An Orange For Frankie.” I don’t think that joy can be commanded or
even manipulated. The church can provide space for joy, time for joy. When one looks to that material, sadness
and poverty reflect the troubles at the Nativity of Jesus. So, joy arrives in
the finding of someone or something lost, of a memory recovered, of an act of
kindness that shines new light on a difficult situation, as touching the spirit
of Christmas.
For many people, this season feels as if it is mandatory to
be cheery. Blue Christmas services are an attempt to note the season does not
fit the reality of depression, grief, and loss of those who see the holiday
season as one to be endured with Advent patience. I don’t think it intentional,
but the blue Advent candles can easily capture this feeling quite well with the
very color, blue. Some churches have a blue Christmas service for those who are
struggling with the festivity all around them, often due to having suffered a
significant personal loss during the year. It can be gift to be able to admit
that one is not feeling joyful, feeling the “Christmas spirit.” (Just check
with us at First Presbyterian, and we can schedule one again this month).
Joy has a sense of depth to its state of being. So much of
what we do to prepare for Christmas seems to skate along the surface of life.
In the midst of all of the harried parties, frenzied cooking, and pounding on
computer keys, may we take a break during Advent. Joy needs room to take root,
to be experienced. We speak so easily of seeing the Christ in one another, but
we tend to neglect seeking the Christ image in ourselves, just as we often fail
to note that Jesus told us to love one another as we love ourselves. In that
sense, we all have a manger within. Instead, we act as if there is no room in
our internal inn for the presence. I sometimes wonder if all of our rushing
about pushes the joy of the season out. May we receive joy during this season,
a fitting Christmas gift for anyone.
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