More than Liquid Soap!
One of my favorite little quirks is to write down and list how US advertisers are co-opting Christian language, theology and music to sell products! The other day, I wasn’t looking at the television, but heard the tune, “Tis a gift to be simple, ‘tis a gift to be free…” I started whistling it and when I walked in the room to see what was on TV, the box was trying to sell me a luxury car! I think our Shaker friends might disagree. You too can play this game with me. We can buy: Hope perfume, Love bug VWs and Joy dishwashing liquid!
In this season of resurrection, joy is the feature of the day. We sing, “Joy to the World, the Lord has come,” at Christmas and at Easter we belt out “Celebrate with Joy and Singing!” We teach our children that the liturgical color is white...(maybe it has something to do with the cleaning effect of dishwashing liquid). We wear joy(white) for baptism, for funerals and ordination.
I’ve been thinking about “wearing joy” this Eastertide. We are marked with ashes on Ash Wednesday…how can we wear joy or put on joy in our daily discipleship?
I agree with Rick, joy is different from happiness. Happiness, for believers at least, is something akin to “feelings” or “emotions." Today I don’t feel happy, even though its Easter. Joy is deeper. We can know joy even when we are unhappy, despairing and desolate. In the gospel of John (John 15), Jesus says, “I have said these things to you, so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete!” Joy is a gift of our loving God and the goal and fruit of the Christian life. Its not something we can acquire or even aim for. We live faithfully, looking towards Christ in the midst of happy and sad times and the grace—the by product—is joy. As C.S. Lewis writes, we are “surprised by joy!”
Nothing can steal the joy that God gives us. I liken this to the promise of Romans 8 “Nothing can separate us from the love of God…” Nothing can separate us from joy…because wherever God is, there is joy. Thus, through Christ, we now abide with God forever and are given this beautiful, deep, and abiding gift. Our part is to “notice” or “discern” the joy and presence of God in our lives…not just when we feel happy, but each day and in every way. Let us see the holy garment of joy and wear it…so that others may see it and be curious about the giver and creator of the joy we wear.
In this season of resurrection, joy is the feature of the day. We sing, “Joy to the World, the Lord has come,” at Christmas and at Easter we belt out “Celebrate with Joy and Singing!” We teach our children that the liturgical color is white...(maybe it has something to do with the cleaning effect of dishwashing liquid). We wear joy(white) for baptism, for funerals and ordination.
I’ve been thinking about “wearing joy” this Eastertide. We are marked with ashes on Ash Wednesday…how can we wear joy or put on joy in our daily discipleship?
I agree with Rick, joy is different from happiness. Happiness, for believers at least, is something akin to “feelings” or “emotions." Today I don’t feel happy, even though its Easter. Joy is deeper. We can know joy even when we are unhappy, despairing and desolate. In the gospel of John (John 15), Jesus says, “I have said these things to you, so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete!” Joy is a gift of our loving God and the goal and fruit of the Christian life. Its not something we can acquire or even aim for. We live faithfully, looking towards Christ in the midst of happy and sad times and the grace—the by product—is joy. As C.S. Lewis writes, we are “surprised by joy!”
Nothing can steal the joy that God gives us. I liken this to the promise of Romans 8 “Nothing can separate us from the love of God…” Nothing can separate us from joy…because wherever God is, there is joy. Thus, through Christ, we now abide with God forever and are given this beautiful, deep, and abiding gift. Our part is to “notice” or “discern” the joy and presence of God in our lives…not just when we feel happy, but each day and in every way. Let us see the holy garment of joy and wear it…so that others may see it and be curious about the giver and creator of the joy we wear.
- Julie
posted by Rick at 3:56 PM
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