Overwhelmed with Joy

Several years ago now, I remember my friend Charlie Landreth sharing a message on the story about the Wisemen following the star to find the Christ child. And I remember he noted first and foremost that Matthew tells us, in words that almost leap off the page: When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy…”

That’s a powerful statement. They were overwhelmed with joy!

Barbara Brown Taylor describes the experience of joy as “almost irreverent.” She writes, “Joy has never had very much to do with what is going on in the world at the time. This is what makes it different from happiness, or pleasure, or fun. All those depend on positive conditions… The only condition for joy is the presence of God… which means that it can erupt in a depressed economy, in the middle of a war, or in an intensive care waiting room… it is a gift…”

In addition to joy; however, there is another emotion prevalent in this text: and that is fear. If we were to back up, when the Magi reached Jerusalem and began asking around, Matthew tells us that Herod got very nervous. This news of Jesus’s birth struck him with fear. And not only him. Matthew says, “Herod was terrified, and all Jerusalem with him.”

Fear is a pretty powerful emotion as well.

So what a huge contrast: the wise men following the star which leads to joy and Herod and all of Jerusalem – never looking up – filled with fear.

I remember Charlie asking: where do you find your place in this story? Where to stand as you face this New Year? In what mood do you live your life? Joy or Fear? Or a mixture of both? Most of us live our lives within that tension….

I wonder how often fear gets in the way of our following the light – or even noticing the light. I wonder how often fear gets in the way of our experiencing joy or grace or God….

As we head into this new year – wherever you are on the journey of life: I pray that you would not allow fear to dominate your life or your decisions. I pray that you would keep your head up, your eyes open and your heart tender… I pray that in doing so, you might notice the in-breaking of the light of Christ into your life at unexpected times and in unexpected ways. May that light not only bring you deep and abiding joy – but lead you to respond with all your heart…

Let us pray: God of Grace, as we sit on the edge of this new year, we ask that the light of Christ would bring joy and hope to our hearts and lives. It is in his name we pray. Amen.