The Easter experience invites us to know joy, an expression of thanksgiving, and hope realized in the risen Lord. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, the reward for faithfulness, the possibilities of prayer and prayers answered. Joy is experienced in fellowship. Joy leads us into worship.
I am not talking about joy as an emotion as much as an experience of something greater than ourselves, coming more from beyond us than from within us. Happiness may stop at our doorstep, but joy cannot be so easily contained. It is this quality of joy that leads us to worship. When Dante was making his ascent into heaven in the Divine Comedy, he heard what sounded like “the laughter of the universe.” This laughter came from the joy of the cosmos being transformed by the reconciling work of God. It is a joy that Tolkien described as “beyond the walls of this world.”
Worship opens a window to look upon this joy and through which to hear with our spiritual ears that universal laughter. In worship we come together as a community of joy as we share in the Great Laugh when Jesus rose from the grave to reconcile one another and creation with God, the joke being on evil and death. We join the Laugh as we sing and pray and declare this good news. This is why joy leads to worship, but also why worship leads to joy. As we glorify God, we take joy in God’s goodness and love.
Now we Presbyterians have been criticized for what some would describe as a lack of joy. We have been called The Frozen Chosen. But how do you measure joy? Biblical, spiritual joy is not a mere emotional outburst, nor is joy produced by good singing and music. “To worship God,” said John Calvin, “ is neither a frigid nor a careless manner.” Joy is not the result of some emotional close-to-Jesus moment one gets when the music has reached its crescendo or the preacher has reached a fever pitch. It is not dependent on how one might “feel the Spirit” or how spontaneous one can be. If that were true, we are teaching that God only shows up in those moments instead of our everyday moments with their trials or rewards; or that somehow God does not honor thoughtful, prayerful preparation. (I had to laugh when I read the footnote to Matthew 10.19 re: do not worry what to say or how to say it. The commentary said: Not to be used by preachers as an excuse for lack of sermon preparation!)
Joy is not to be confused with happiness, cheerfulness, fun or enjoyment. That’s not to say that these do not bubble up from joy from time to time. But consider how the shepherds were terrified when they heard the “great joy” (Luke 2:9-10). Mary Magdalene departed from the tomb with “fear and great joy” (Matt. 28.8). Psalmists linked joy with sorrow. Joy was even associated with the cross of Jesus (Heb. 12.2). And there are James’ words, “consider it pure joy” when we face trials (1.2). Clearly, joy can be peculiar, even puzzling at times.
Perhaps as “joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30.5) we greet each day as an opportunity to bring joy to others with support, kind words, laughter, hope and the simple gift of being present. It wouldn’t hurt and it might heal some hurts. too. Then we take these experiences with us again into the sanctuary to glorify God, and to enjoy God – forever!