Advent: Stories of Joy

 

Jeremiah 31:7-14

Many things have contributed to moments of happiness in my life—learning to water ski, a birthday party for my 16th birthday, Jeanne agreeing to go on a date with me 36+ years ago, the bishop calling to ask me to take the lead pastor position at McAllen FUMC. Yet, all of those happy moments were fleeting, short lived—because happiness is based on happenings. Once the happening is done and over with, the happiness begins to fade. Joy is different, enduring. So, how do we get “joy” in our lives?

In today’s reading from Jeremiah, the prophet is telling the people in captivity in Babylon that God is going to bring them home. Not only will God bring them home, but they will come home with joy. While Jeremiah speaks to a specific people in a specific situation in a specific time of history, the message is universal—for us as well. God long to bring us out of captivity and fill us with joy. Captivity? Us?! Yes… We become captive to fears, to expectations of others, to traditions, and even to our possessions—we find ourselves owned by what we “have” rather than owning what we have. We can be captive to many different things, and these words in Jeremiah speak of freedom…speak of coming back from captivity, coming back with joy.

What is the source of joy for us? God broke into this world through the birth of his son, Jesus. God brought forgiveness, healing, hope, and peace through Jesus—through his life and teachings, through his death and resurrection. God poured out the Spirit on all who would come to God in faith, trusting in God, believing in God’s goodness and grace. And, God preserved the story of all of that in Scripture for us to return to again and again.  Because of those ancient happenings in the world, because of the promises of Scripture, all people everywhere can have and hold on to the joy God longs to pour into our lives.

So, God is the source of our joy. While happiness comes to us briefly from external experiences and circumstances, joy springs from within…and remains with us whether the external circumstances bring happiness or not. What is joy? Joy is the deep, enduring contentment God pours into us, a contentment that grows out of the assurance we have in God and God’s promises.

On this third Sunday of Advent, the Sunday of Joy, we remember and celebrate the joy that comes into the world through Jesus beginning with that first Christmas. We can have that joy today when we latch onto, hold onto the provision and promises of God’s mighty acts in history. When we do that, we can begin to know joy…a joy that endures times of darkness and pain, a joy that supports us and buoys us regardless of the happenstances of life.

This is the joy that Jesus brings to us, and this is God’s Good News for us today. Amen!

Sunday, December 14, 2025
Advent: Stories of Joy
Watch/Listen to the sermon: HERE
(And if you want to experience the joy of our children’s Christmas program, watch HERE.)