Sermon_10_7

"Joy and Sorrow and Joy Again"

A Sermon by the Rev. Charles Caskey
Interim Rector
St. Thomas Episcopal Church
Battle Creek, Michigan

Date: December 11, 2007

The Painting on the cover of the Bulletin this morning captures for me the true meaning of Advent and particularly this “Rejoice” Sunday. It can be found in the Gallery of Exhibition of the Episcopal Church and the Visual Arts. The title Half Light and Silence reminds me of what life was like for John in prison as he sits most of days in half light and silence. We can hear John preaching the Good News that the Lord is near at great personal cost and against the darkness of Roman occupation and oppression and the dire poverty of his people.

Even in the half light portrayed in this abstract painting, there is both color and light, joy and hope. At the same time there is darkness and confusion and even sorrow. An American visitor to El Salvador once asked the martyred Archbishop, Oscar Romero, what should be told about the persecution taking place there. He responded: “Tell them things are desperate—and tell them we are joyful.” Rejoicing is an ever present theme in Scripture. A lack of joy is seen as a consequence of our separation from God, and joy comes from our reunion with God.

Just a year ago my mother dying from a massive stroke. It was very difficult to find joy in her dying. I am just now beginning to grasp that beauty lies not only in the rose, which was her life, but also in the dust, in death as well as life. The great theologian of the twentieth century, Paul Tillich, argues that we can learn much about joy by looking at it’s opposite, “sorrow.” The sorrow is often found in the half light and silence of our lives. Sorrow is the feeling of being deprived of something that belongs to us and is necessary for our fulfillment. We may be deprived of a loved one, creative work, or a supportive community. We may also be deprived of home, honor, love, and physical or mental health. All of these and more bring sorrow, the sorrow of sadness, the sorrow of loneliness, the sorrow of depression, the sorrow of self-accusation, particularly this time of year—a time of half light and silence even in nature.

Joy, however, can be seem hidden in the sorrow, in the half light and silence. Jesus captures this in the Beatitudes when calls the poor, blessed; those who mourn, blessed; those who hunger and thirst and are persecuted, blessed. Then he says to them: Rejoice and be glad!” Joy within sorrow is possible for those who are blessed. Joy and not sorrow is everlasting. As promised at the end of the reading from Isaiah this morning: …”The ransomed of the Lord shall return…with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; and they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

This joy preserves within itself its opposite, sorrow. Joy provides the foundation for happiness and pleasure. It is present in our striving. It does not take away the risks and dangers. It makes the joy of life possible both in pleasure and pain, in happiness and unhappiness, in ecstasy and sorrow. Where there is true joy there is fulfillment. And where there is fulfillment, there is joy. In fulfillment and joy, the inner aim of life, the meaning of creation, and the end of salvation, are attained.

Just how are we to do this in a community of faith? Paul reminds us to be patient and strengthen our hearts. How might we strengthen our hearts? Paul says that we do this through prayer in all circumstances, even in prison, and especially around persons who try our patience. Do not grumble against one another, as James says. We are to pray through our tears and our fears, to give thanks always and know that prayer connects us with the energy to bring goodness into our lives and others as well. However, as The Very Rev. Samuel G. Candler, Dean of the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta, reminds us, the season of Advent as we usually experience it, is not spent waiting in prayer:

"We say that the season of Advent is a season of waiting. We try to persuade ourselves that if we just say that often enough, it will become true. Advent is a season of waiting. Advent is a season of waiting.

But it's not. Advent is a season of impatience. Sure, there are other times throughout the year when we experience impatience. But this season, the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, this season is the climax of impatience, when all our anxiety and hurry and worry are concentrated into four short weeks.

“We are busy preparing, each of us in our individual way, for something special to happen to us. Is this the right gift, or shall we seek another? Is this the right way for me to serve the poor, or shall I seek another? Is this the party I was waiting for, or is it another one? Is this the moment with my family that I was waiting for, or was I waiting for something else?

“The horrible possibility lies in the back of our mind that our expectation will indeed go unfulfilled - that what we are waiting for will never happen - that we will forever sit lonely and empty by the side of the road…today, speaking differently than John did last week.

“In last week's gospel lesson, John burst on the scene with fire and vengeance, full of confidence and certainty. He announced the coming of Jesus with great hope and expectation. He gave us a fairly accurate model for Advent, full of energy, like children decorating the Christmas tree!

“But, today, he represents Advent in another way, in a way that is just as authentic as last week's style. But he is tired. He is discouraged. He questions. John the Baptist is like us. He jumps to hope with power and aggressiveness. But, later, he has questions; he even has doubts. At least John had sense enough to ask the right question: "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?

“Because that is the Advent question: "Are you the one I've been waiting for, or shall I wait for another?" Is this the present I've been waiting for? Is this the party, is this the family reunion, is this the date I've been waiting for? Is this the job I really wanted? Is this really the house we wanted so desperately two years ago? Is this really the person I loved four years ago? Is this really the person I love now?

“We will find a precious gift, the gift of Christ; we will find reconciliation and peace-if we have eyes to see beyond our expectations-if we look around us and notice new places where Jesus is working. "Go and tell John what you see and hear," said Jesus. "The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk. The dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.

“Jesus Christ did not come to those people who had the details of his arrival all worked out. He came to the blind, the lame, the lepers, the deaf, the poor, the dead. He came to the downtrodden. He came in humility for the humble. He came for those who did not have it all worked out for themselves. He came for those who knew they needed Him.”

Amen. Come Lord Jesus into the half light and silence of our lives.

Charlie+



	"Joy and Sorrow and Joy Again" A Sermon by the Rev. Charles Caskey Interim Rector St. Thomas Episcopal Church Battle Creek, Michigan Date: December 11, 2007 The Painting on the cover of the Bulletin this morning captures for me the true meaning of Advent and particularly this “Rejoice” Sunday. It can be found in the Gallery of Exhibition of the Episcopal Church and the Visual Arts. The title Half Light and Silence reminds me of what life was like for John in prison as he sits most of days in half light and silence. We can hear John preaching the Good News that the Lord is near at great personal cost and against the darkness of Roman occupation and oppression and the dire poverty of his people. Even in the half light portrayed in this abstract painting, there is both color and light, joy and hope. At the same time there is darkness and confusion and even sorrow. An American visitor to El Salvador once asked the martyred Archbishop, Oscar Romero, what should be told about the persecution taking place there. He responded: “Tell them things are desperate—and tell them we are joyful.” Rejoicing is an ever present theme in Scripture. A lack of joy is seen as a consequence of our separation from God, and joy comes from our reunion with God. Just a year ago my mother dying from a massive stroke. It was very difficult to find joy in her dying. I am just now beginning to grasp that beauty lies not only in the rose, which was her life, but also in the dust, in death as well as life. The great theologian of the twentieth century, Paul Tillich, argues that we can learn much about joy by looking at it’s opposite, “sorrow.” The sorrow is often found in the half light and silence of our lives. Sorrow is the feeling of being deprived of something that belongs to us and is necessary for our fulfillment. We may be deprived of a loved one, creative work, or a supportive community. We may also be deprived of home, honor, love, and physical or mental health. All of these and more bring sorrow, the sorrow of sadness, the sorrow of loneliness, the sorrow of depression, the sorrow of self-accusation, particularly this time of year—a time of half light and silence even in nature. Joy, however, can be seem hidden in the sorrow, in the half light and silence. Jesus captures this in the Beatitudes when calls the poor, blessed; those who mourn, blessed; those who hunger and thirst and are persecuted, blessed. Then he says to them: Rejoice and be glad!” Joy within sorrow is possible for those who are blessed. Joy and not sorrow is everlasting. As promised at the end of the reading from Isaiah this morning: …”The ransomed of the Lord shall return…with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; and they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. This joy preserves within itself its opposite, sorrow. Joy provides the foundation for happiness and pleasure. It is present in our striving. It does not take away the risks and dangers. It makes the joy of life possible both in pleasure and pain, in happiness and unhappiness, in ecstasy and sorrow. Where there is true joy there is fulfillment. And where there is fulfillment, there is joy. In fulfillment and joy, the inner aim of life, the meaning of creation, and the end of salvation, are attained. Just how are we to do this in a community of faith? Paul reminds us to be patient and strengthen our hearts. How might we strengthen our hearts? Paul says that we do this through prayer in all circumstances, even in prison, and especially around persons who try our patience. Do not grumble against one another, as James says. We are to pray through our tears and our fears, to give thanks always and know that prayer connects us with the energy to bring goodness into our lives and others as well. However, as The Very Rev. Samuel G. Candler, Dean of the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta, reminds us, the season of Advent as we usually experience it, is not spent waiting in prayer: "We say that the season of Advent is a season of waiting. We try to persuade ourselves that if we just say that often enough, it will become true. Advent is a season of waiting. Advent is a season of waiting. But it's not. Advent is a season of impatience. Sure, there are other times throughout the year when we experience impatience. But this season, the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, this season is the climax of impatience, when all our anxiety and hurry and worry are concentrated into four short weeks. “We are busy preparing, each of us in our individual way, for something special to happen to us. Is this the right gift, or shall we seek another? Is this the right way for me to serve the poor, or shall I seek another? Is this the party I was waiting for, or is it another one? Is this the moment with my family that I was waiting for, or was I waiting for something else? “The horrible possibility lies in the back of our mind that our expectation will indeed go unfulfilled - that what we are waiting for will never happen - that we will forever sit lonely and empty by the side of the road…today, speaking differently than John did last week. “In last week's gospel lesson, John burst on the scene with fire and vengeance, full of confidence and certainty. He announced the coming of Jesus with great hope and expectation. He gave us a fairly accurate model for Advent, full of energy, like children decorating the Christmas tree! “But, today, he represents Advent in another way, in a way that is just as authentic as last week's style. But he is tired. He is discouraged. He questions. John the Baptist is like us. He jumps to hope with power and aggressiveness. But, later, he has questions; he even has doubts. At least John had sense enough to ask the right question: "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another? “Because that is the Advent question: "Are you the one I've been waiting for, or shall I wait for another?" Is this the present I've been waiting for? Is this the party, is this the family reunion, is this the date I've been waiting for? Is this the job I really wanted? Is this really the house we wanted so desperately two years ago? Is this really the person I loved four years ago? Is this really the person I love now? “We will find a precious gift, the gift of Christ; we will find reconciliation and peace-if we have eyes to see beyond our expectations-if we look around us and notice new places where Jesus is working. "Go and tell John what you see and hear," said Jesus. "The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk. The dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. “Jesus Christ did not come to those people who had the details of his arrival all worked out. He came to the blind, the lame, the lepers, the deaf, the poor, the dead. He came to the downtrodden. He came in humility for the humble. He came for those who did not have it all worked out for themselves. He came for those who knew they needed Him.” Amen. Come Lord Jesus into the half light and silence of our lives. Charlie+
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