Released by Joy

Philippians 4:4-7                                                                                       Nancy Willet

Bethany Presbyterian Church                                                         November 21, 2004

Rejoice! What comes to your mind when you hear this word? Roget's Thesaurus says this about "rejoice:"To show joyful satisfaction in an event, especially by merrymaking: celebrate, revel. Then it says "see laughter." In our orderliness is next to godliness culture of the Presbyterian Church, we sometimes forget that we are to take time to Rejoice in the goodness of life and all creation.  What about a spontaneous burst of laughter in rejoicing or reveling during worship? Would you be embarrassed?

Pablo nos dice, aunque, "¡Regocíjense el Señor siempre!" ¿Nos sentimos comodos siempre cuando nos regocijemos?   ¿Y cuando estamos en Iglesia, nos regocijamos sin vergüenza? Pienso que no. No queremos que otros nos ven en una manera que está descontrolada, verdad?

Commentator William Loader says that "Joy is never alone. Its companions are fear and pain." You see, in order to know what true joy is, we must also know what pain and fear feels like. For Paul, and for us as Christians today, our joy comes not in denying our fear and pain, but joy comes through the presence of Jesus Christ in our lives, in whom we put our trust. Paul, wrote this text from prison, his death very near, perhaps. Paul knew what fear was, yet he believed in the ability to rejoice in the Lord always. It is this Christian joy that releases us from our burdens and worries, from the pain and hurt. This joy frees us to uncurl ourselves, to open ourselves to each other—to experience Christ in the other. 

Júbilo no viene a nosotros solo. Si no conocemos dolor y miedo, no podamos conocer júbilo. Nuestro júbilo no nos viene porque negamos nuestro dolor y miedo, pero porque sabemos que nuestro júbilo nos viene por la presencia de Jesucristo en nuestras vidas. Pablo escritó esta carte de carcel. Supo que el fin de su vida era cerca. Todavía, tenía gozo y júbilo en su corazón a causa de el amor de Jesucristo en su alma. 

It is the same with our thanksgivings. When we are thankful for the bounty of goodness in our lives, I don't believe we do so by forgetting the injustices and burdens that are present with us. It is through our hope and faith in God that we are able to move beyond our burdens and claim the joy that releases us to freedom. That joy which is given to us so freely in God's grace.

Es lo mismo con nuestras acciones de gracias. Es cierto que todos de nosotros han sufrido injusticias y cargas en nuestras vidas. Pero es a causa de nuestra fe y esperanza en Dio que podemos moverse hacia adelante más alla de nuestras cargas, y reclamar el júbilo que nos esta dado liberalemente en la gracia de Dios.

I witnessed joy and rejoicing last week when Charles announced 100% of the pledges had been pledged. I could see the joy on people's faces. I don't think we could have expressed that same joy and thanksgiving without also experiencing some of the lack of hope and despair we all have felt over the financial situation at Bethany.

Yet, there is joy and thanksgiving here at Bethany within this family. You see, joy is a gift of the Spirit. Joy flows from a deep inner assurance of the benefits of Christ and contentment in God. Spiritual values transcend temporal values and provide us with a basis for celebration and a reason for confidence.

Cuando Pablo habla de paz en verso siete, no es el tipo de paz que dice se sentirán feliz cuando aprender a mirror más alla de las cargas y incertidumbres. No, Pablo habla del tipo de paz que dice "Yo soy Dios. Estoy aquí con ustedes. Estoy con ustedes en júbilo y en dolor. Es el tipo de paz que no descansa hasta que no haya ninguna injusticia ni necesidad. Este, vale la pena de nuestros regocijos!

As we gather at the table today, I invite you all to come to the table with joy and thanksgiving. Come, bringing your burdens and worries, and come knowing that God's peace comes to us as something bigger and grander than our imaginations and all our solutions. It is the peace that transcends all understanding.

Amen.