Sunday 13th December

Third Sunday in advent and the theme is JOY

Last night I went to a brass band concert in the village church with my Dad and his wife Marion.  The primary school and high school choirs were there.  The church was freezing but packed and I was sat behind a pillar so couldnt see the conductor or much of what was going on at all.  A recipe for a cold dull night out.   But no!   It was fabulous.

For a start it snowed in the afternoon so we walked to the church in our wellies through a light covering of white.  And somehow that always makes one feel a bit more festive.   And then two members of the brass band were late because they were coming from much more snow laden areas up in the hills.  So the conductor told a few jokes and then put the kids choir on first to buy time for the trumpeters to arrive.   The kids gave it 110% with harmonies and all sorts.  They were fab.  And then the trumpeters arrived and the band began to play.    Id forgotten just what a huge sound a full brass band can make.  And the church was the perfect amplification for them.  They started with a Christmas Anthem - a rousing and very clever medley of lots of old favourites.  They were good.  I was impressed.  

We sang a few carols of course.  And it was just brilliant to be standing next to my 82 year old Dad singing away.  Happiness really can be found in the small things.

Joy isn't happiness.  It isn't a nice feeling.  It is something much more than that - a deeper thing altogether.  When the angels announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds they said  ' Behold we bring you good tidings of great joy' .  This news was to be a well of spiritual contentment for the whole world - the very source of that contentment, peace and deep satisfaction had come into the world.  The experience of joy can often far outweigh the incident which inspires it.  The birth of a baby in a stable might have been a lovely thing to witness, but surely most of the shepherds would have seen many a new born baby before.  The birth of their own children would have been more significant occasions surely?   And yet the birth of this specific baby would bring joy deeper than they had ever known.  A new sort of joy perhaps?  Jesus taking joy to a whole new level.

The joy Jesus brings is not a freedom from trouble or pain.  It does not mean roses round the door and no bumps in the road.  But what it does mean is Emmanuel.  God WITH us.  The person and power and presence of God available to us at all times and in all places.  The voice in our ear saying ' this is the way walk in it'.  The comforter showing us truth from the word to bring light to our path.    The joy comes from knowing that we are not alone.   Never alone.  And that NOTHING can separate us from His love.