Through Stained Glass: Advent Word a Day: Messenger

Messenger

Today we rejoice, and we name our joy. 

In the Gospel lesson today, John sends his disciples to Jesus to inquire whether Jesus is the one they were anticipating. 

Jesus responds, "Go and tell John what you see and hear..."

Jesus' message to John and us is to be attentive to God's actions in our lives. It is as if Jesus says to John, "Hey, cousin. You're right. Things are bad -- for you and the rest of us. But we have hope -- that even now, God is gladdening the dry lands and wilderness, and unfolding before us is the Holy Way!"

Here's what I love about today's text: these passages remind us of the beauty of God's justice. These verses remind us of the joy of seeing God working for justice in the world. They remind us to celebrate and sing when we experience the fulfillment of God's promises. Included in this is the land -- the messenger of hope, peace, joy, and love. 

The messengers of the Bible, known as prophets, always end with a word of hope. We need not wait for joy or to rejoice. Did you know the Church remembers John as the patron saint for spiritual joy? Finding joy in John's jail cell may be challenging. However, in the ministry of the messenger who went before Jesus, it is easy to find joy. I find it in the way he confronts my disillusioned expectations of the Christ, and directs my eyes and ears to the fringes where God is continually re-creating. John's the one who reminds me that we never hope in vain -- and that God's response to us is always a resounding 'Yes!' 

Today I found the joy of God's 'Yes!' in three places. In the woods on my weekly post-worship walk, at the nativity festival at our church, with nearly 50 students at our first Presbytery youth gathering. Unlike happiness which is dependent on so much -- joy is a gift -- it is the beauty and belovedness of this world that nothing can take away. Joy can coexist with pain. Joy can accompany grief. And joy can come alongside all the other emotions we feel! Today, these messengers gifted me with love and joy, even as I enter a season of grief. 

But that's the thing about joy. Or as I recently heard it said, "We generate joy by daring to love ourselves, to love our people and communities, and to love our cultures. To insist on a better world built on that bold, brave, bodacious love." And this doesn't sound much different than what Jesus said -- "go and tell John what you see and hear ..." 

Joy -- it's a matter of our perception -- and where we give our attention!