Is Joy Possible at Christmas?3 Advent C Philippians 4 Is Joy Possible at Christmas?

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Our Scripture for this morning’s sermon is the Epistle Lesson read from Philippians, chapter 4:

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.  Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7 ESV)

Prayer: O grant, dear Lord of love, That we receive rejoicing, The word proclaimed by John, Our true repentance voicing, That gladly we may walk Upon our Savior’s way Until we live with Him In His eternal day. Amen.

Is Joy Possible at Christmas?  If that sermon title in the middle of December seems strange to you, then quite possibly you haven’t been out shopping recently.

Many shoppers don’t seem joyful.  Most looked stressed.  And while in the past it may have been the traffic, the crowds in the stores, or the up-hill battle to find that right toy that wore nerves raw –this year it’s the anxiety brought on by the inability to give the family the Christmas they want or that you think they deserve.

Is Joy Possible at Christmas?  If you think that’s an unusual title for an Advent sermon, then perhaps you don’t known the recent loss of a loved one –a loss that will make this Christmas your first without them.  Or maybe you and your loved ones are among the fortunate who are not dealing with cancer, or some form of chronic disease, or even depression.

If asking if there is any possibility of Joy at Christmas makes you wonder who would ask such a thing, then might I suggest that you join the rest of humankind at this season and heed the words of the Marley’s Ghost to Ebenezer Scrooge in Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, “Mankind was my business!”  People are hurting all around us and especially in ways this year that are no doubt making deep and long-lasting affects. Joy should seem distant for us all.

On Thursday a local television news hour featured experts standing by at telephones to take viewers’ calls, giving advice and counsel on how to make it through the Christmas season.  That doesn’t seem to me to speak of much Christmas joy.

But the church does.  On this Third Sunday in Advent known as “Rejoice Sunday,” the Church says, “Joy is possible at Christmas.”  The purple lighted candles give way to a pink one.  Things are changing in emphasis from penitential to a mood of anticipation.  Zephaniah tell us in today’s Old Testament “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one to save; he will rejoice over you with gladness.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

But it is the Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Philippians that sets the tone for today with the words of the first verse of our text, Philippians 4 verse 4. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice!” (Did you also notice how this is repeated in the Introit?)

You know, the Epistle to the Philippians is a wonderful letter.  It is simply full of Joy. One commentator says “Joy is the music that runs through this epistle, the sunshine that spreads over all of it. The whole epistle radiates joy and happiness”[1]

Now according to human terms this is remarkable when we realize that St. Paul was writing this letter while he was in prison.  He’s in jail and he writes to encourage the Philippians!  He thanks them for the gift they had sent him.  He tells of how even though he is in chains, he has had many opportunities to preach the Gospel.  And so He wants them to stand firm as they contend for “the faith of the Gospel.”  But above all he wants them to rejoice.

As I have already pointed out, rejoicing should come easy for us at this time of the year.  But often times it doesn’t.  And a clue as to why is found right after these words of Paul that call us to rejoice.  He says next, “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.”  And I think you will agree with me: A lot of people simply are unreasonable at this time of the year. As a matter of fact, a lot of people are unreasonable all the time.  And plenty of these are Christians.

But why?  It’s because they think –and especially at Christmas time more so –that they have to find their own reason to rejoice.  They’re like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, tempted and dissatisfied with all that they had from God, they turned to what they thought would make them happy –separation from God. Their sin had horrible consequences.

We’re told that in America there are a half-million households with assets of 10 million dollars or more.  But many suffer from “Wealth Fatigue Syndrome.”  They’re worn out form being super rich.  Tiger Woods is certainly one of those.  Look to the extent of his dissatisfaction: a hero in the world of golf. Incredibly wealthy.  Yet unable to be satisfied.  Michael Jackson was another.  They pursue “vanities,” as Solomon calls them. And all of it brings nothing.

On the other hand there are many who because of opposite circumstances –their poverty, unemployment, illness, grief or whatever, are also unable to be happy and are unreasonable.  They too are worn-out by the cares of this world.

Regardless, anger toward God follows with unbelief.  Many conclude there is no God.  They can’t even see the obvious goodness of God toward them in their lives and the world around them.  They are unbelieving and become unreasonable.  They become hopelessly lost in their sin.

But today we are called to rejoice –in the Lord.  We truly are blessed and have good reason.  We need not concern ourselves with the cares of this world so that they bring us down.  “In the Lord” means in our Lord Jesus Christ, who has called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9)

Once we were no people. Once we were lost to sin. Once we dwelt in darkness.  But as our increasingly brighter Advent wreath shows us we have been brought into His light.  The Lord of all was made one of us.  He entered our world –stepping forth out of eternity. His love for you is so great that He willingly took all the sins and cares of your life and made them His own.  And then He died for you, and for all people –the whole World.  He made us His own, to live with Him in His kingdom and serve Him with everlasting righteousness, innocence and blessedness.

That is the real reason to rejoice!

Now I have to admit, that Rejoicing wasn’t what I was doing a few weeks a go when I learned that I had to be in Dearborn, Michigan, near Detroit this past Friday and yesterday for a meeting.  It was a gathering of the pastoral and lay delegates for the upcoming Synod Convention to be held next July.  It’s hard enough to get into a joyful mood about page after page of Synodical polity and structure.  But to do it the second weekend in December in the midst of Advent didn’t make me very joyful.  But it is the work of the church and that has to go on regardless of season.  The joy came in knowing that it was Christ’s work we were doing in order to be a better Church –humanly speaking– and do better Word and Sacrament Ministry.

Isn’t it somewhat similar with the idea of a voter’s meeting today? That’s also Christ’s work –through this church.  Perhaps in some minds the idea of serving as an officer is not a cause for rejoicing.  Maybe you think you have a good excuse. But maybe you don’t. And maybe we should grow up a bit? –at least spiritually?

Excuses I’ve heard include, “I can’t do that.” or, “I served once before and it was terrible –I said never again.” or, “My family needs me right now.”

Whether you think you don’t have the talents, or perhaps that you were indeed slighted once in some way, or that you truly have more pressing things, consider these words:

The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

If you have been asked to serve this congregation –to allow your name to stand on the ballot as a candidate for an office or a committee and have already said ,”no” –then I want you, before 2 o’clock today, consider today’s words from the Apostle Paul –and really from the Holy Spirit.

First, with the knowledge that it is God’s work; He’s with you, “the Lord is at hand.” Second, “do not be anxious” –as it says – don’t worry. And, third, pray about it. “…by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” And finally, let God’s peace take over your heart and mind on this matter.  Trusting Him to help you will make all the difference to you and to our congregation, knowing He forgives, guards and helps.

No matter what circumstance or season we find ourselves in, God gives us a reason to rejoice. He is ever at hand to forgive, sustain, and support us.  With the assurance of his love and presence in Christ Jesus, we can place all that we are and all that we have in his hands for time and eternity and rejoice in his grace and mercy toward us.  Thanks be to God! Amen.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

---

[1] R. C. H. Lenski, The Interpretation of St. Paul’s Epistles to the Galatians, to the Ephesians, and to the Philippians [Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1937], 691