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Homilies by Rev. Andrew Collis unless indicated otherwise.
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Advent 3, Year B
Commissioning of Elders
South Sydney Uniting Church
December 17, 2017
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8,19-28
‘The joy of the gospel’
We light three candles – for hope, peace and joy. We might notice, firstly, that these are three emotions/feelings. We can feel hopeful, peaceful and joyful. So, to focus on the third pink candle, how does it feel to be joyful? … God be with you …
We might also notice that sometimes we enjoy doing something even if the emotion is not simply joyful (cheerful or happy). Perhaps it’s a very deep feeling, or something more than emotion, a sense of purpose, connection or meaning that is enjoyable.
One example is story. I enjoy stories, all kinds of stories – funny ones, sad ones, parables and adventures. Why? Because I’m learning new words, new ideas; learning about other people in other times and places; imagining what it’s like to be someone else – a person, an animal, an angel … I might feel all sorts of emotions, from confused to angry, but really enjoy being part of the story’s world – being part of the world.
Another example is music. There are major chords that sound happy and bright. There are minor chords that sound a little gloomy. Slow songs to help us think and faster songs to get us dancing, jumping, running. But I enjoy all kinds of music. Even a sad song can help me to feel better, stronger. Even a sad song can be enjoyable. What do you think? …
Our reading from Thessalonians is part of a letter written by the apostle Paul to a church in Thessalonica (Greece). It may be the oldest piece of writing we have in the New Testament (from the early 50s CE). The key words can help to frame a picture of the early church. Rejoice always. Pray constantly. Give thanks to the God of peace. Test the prophecies/teachings with an eye to goodness. Don’t stifle/stop inspiration.
We might imagine all the people who found in Jesus not stern compassion but bright mercy, story-
It’s something we can learn. An inner strength. An underlying rhythm. A steady beat beneath a whole range of emotions – a sense of purpose, connection or meaning.
And this is what interests the apostle Paul, who wrote his letter to a troubled community. The members of that early church had experienced, and continued to experience, persecution and isolation. He wasn’t telling them to deny what was happening, nor to have the one emotion again and again (which would be very odd) but to “rejoice always” – an encouragement linked to constant prayer and to giving thanks.
Members of many churches are performing Handel’s Messiah at the Sydney Town Hall again this year. The oratorio weaves together many texts to present a bigger story of God in Christ, God with us – a “king of kings and lord of lords”, that is, a power in weakness. By way of uplifting music, discipline, practice – and regardless of individual emotional states, the feelings of individual choristers – there is what we might call joyful contact with the gospel, joy as contact with the gospel.
Where (else) do you find this kind of purpose, connection or meaning? In rituals or patterns of daily life (sharing/eating ice-
Last night I went to see a play called Barbara and the Camp Dogs, written and produced by Alana Valentine and Vicki Gordon. It was enjoyable in the deep sense of the word. The story (of Aboriginal sisters, of family and national trauma) was gripping. The songs (confronting, humorous, anguished, direct, explicit, soulful) were moving. I imagine that writing and producing a play – composing words and music in collaboration – can be a joyful task prayerfully undertaken (a means of giving thanks and praying constantly), involving a whole community.
There was a time when Christian leaders frowned upon enjoyment. There have been Roman and Puritan attacks on creativity. Calvinist bans on musical accompaniment. Baptist bans on dancing. Even “Christian” bans on Christmas.
The good news is this – enjoy your calling and commissioning. Enjoy the challenges and opportunities for growth presented to you. Enjoy the mystery and process of learning, desiring wisdom. How radical this message may yet prove to be.
Remember joy and anticipate joy. The bigger story is the coming of God in Christ, the reign or kindom of heaven on earth, God with us (equality, integrity, justice). The joy of the gospel is as wonderful as words and music.
Returning to Barbara and the Camp Dogs, our SSH theatre reviewer (Catherine Skipper) says: “All is not resolved but the future may be better and harmony might prevail as expressed in the [play’s] final song, ‘Let In the Love’.”
Love is our theme for next week (Christmas Eve). Joy, naturally, leads to love. May it be so. Amen.