Beginning several years ago, three small Lutheran churches that straddle the Iowa - Minnesota state line began to work and worship together. Last Sunday, our pastor was on vacation and I — most definitely a lay person — agreed (in a moment of weakness) to lead worship. This is an abridged version of my message.
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In October 2022, Paula and I took a trip with a small group loosely affiliated with our Alma Mater, Luther College… an excursion that took us to Vietnam and Bhutan. Our trip had been postponed and rescheduled four times due to COVID… ah, but it was well worth the wait.
Ironically, considerable anxiety five decades ago about a POSSIBLE trip to Vietnam at government expense was transformed into a desire to visit this beautiful country.
The second part of this trip was to visit Bhutan, a country which, maybe like most of us, I knew little about prior to this journey. Bhutan is in Asia, tucked away in the Eastern Himalayas, China to the north, India to the south. Three-quarters of the people in Bhutan are Buddhists.
A relatively recent development in Bhutan: the country – with intentionality and purpose – identified Gross National Happiness as its overriding aspiration. NOT Gross National Product or another economic measurement. Gross National Happiness… basically, the wellbeing of its citizens.
Happiness is now enshrined in the country’s constitution; it’s measured and promoted across all aspects of Bhutanese life. Imagine that. Gross National Happiness.
Unfortunately, when they were selecting a national objective, the Bhutan government did NOT ask me to weigh in on this matter. Of course, I would have told them happiness a really good idea. But… I dare say, I may have an even BETTER idea.
That is, Gross National JOY. Happiness versus joy? I vote joy. These words are sometimes used interchangeably, however, there are distinct differences.
Happiness is often temporary and fleeting, whereas joy is deeper, more complex, more enduring. Happiness is based on external factors (for example, a phone call from a friend) whereas joy is based on internal factors, like contentment and satisfaction (for instance, a longstanding friendship).
Happiness reacts; joy transcends. Happiness happens to us; joy is a deliberate, conscious, intentional choice, which can become a practice, a behavior. Joy is one of the “fruits of the Spirit” cited in Galatians, second only to love. Happiness doesn’t make the list.
Which brings me back to today’s lessons. Three of four texts for today mention joy… or rejoicing. Let me string these joy-filled references together.
-Isaiah 66: Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her… rejoice with her in joy. You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice.
-Psalm 66: Be joyful in God, all you lands; be joyful all the earth. God turned the sea into dry land, so that they went through the water on foot and there we rejoiced in God.
-Luke 10: “The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, in your name the demons submit to us!” … Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
So now, we’re prompted to ask. What brings about such joy? Let’s plunge a bit deeper.
In Isaiah, after years of bleakness, Jerusalem is promised prosperity… like a river, like an overflowing stream. Jerusalem will be comforted, “as a mother comforts her child” AND, perhaps of greatest importance, “it shall be known that the hand of the Lord is with his servants.”
The steadfast, transforming, nurturing love of God is with us. Oh, what joy! Isaiah reminds us that God's compassion is extended to His servants even during struggles. Bear in mind, God doesn’t engage in vague, abstract commitments, you know, “hey, let’s get together sometime...” God makes promises and keeps His word.
Four times in Isaiah, verse 10, people are told to “rejoice,” to “be glad,” or to be “in joy”. Four times in one verse! This all comes at time when Jerusalem didn’t feel very happy. (Again, the difference between happiness and joy.)
Then, in verse 13, “comfort” appears three times: “as a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you” along with a powerful affirmation, “and you shall be comforted.”
There’s a different joyfulness in our Psalm. If we read Psalm 66 from a Bible, in book form, the first words are “For the director of music. A song. A psalm.” THEN, the first verse, “Be joyful in God all you lands, be joyful all the earth.” (TWO “joyfuls”.) Followed by, “Sing the glory of God’s name.”
This is a psalm of both praise AND thanksgiving, praise being dominant. Praise and thanksgiving often walk hand-in-hand, yet, like joy and happiness, there’s a difference. Praise concentrates thoughts on a being that’s praiseworthy (in this case, God) whereas thanksgiving focuses on what we’ve received, a more focused view.
Joy surfaces again in our lesson from Luke. “The seventy returned with joy.” The joy of attainment. Of carrying out important work. Of mission accomplished.
And who hasn’t experienced such joy. Oh, it may not have been missionary work, toiling in the harvest field of “every town and place.” Nevertheless, rural lives certainly connect with this harvest / laborers analogy.
This Luke passage reminds us, as people of God, we’re called to live and share God’s love. This is our mission… the mission of the church worldwide, the mission of our three congregations, the mission of those of us gathered today in Mona, Iowa. To live and share God’s love, following in the footsteps of the seventy.
Luke tells us that the first wave is already coming back… with considerable joy among the seventy. Then Jesus says: You had authority over the enemy… but don’t rejoice in THIS. Quote: “Rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” We’re reminded not to rejoice in what we’ve done for God… but rather, in what God has done for us.
Three lessons, three bursts of joy. I opened today by mentioning a trip to Bhutan. One site we visited was a large open-air Buddhist temple, with many steps and platforms as we approached the altar.
Before reaching the center of this temple, we had to step up and over a low-lying barrier, maybe eight inches off the ground. Our guide explained that as we approached the heart of a temple, this “step-over” ensures that we look down… a bow of modesty, a position of humility, of submitting to a higher power.
Today’s opening hymn is one of my favorites, “My God How Wonderful Thou Art”. According to one hymnologist, the lyricist, Frederick Faber, “heaps phrase upon phrase to express the unreachable greatness of the Almighty.”
My favorite verse: “Yet I may love thee too, O Lord, / Almighty as thou art, / For thou hast stooped to ask of me / The love of my poor heart.” Yes, I may stoop inside a Buddhist temple, just as I stoop to approach this beautiful altar, where family members have worshipped since this church was founded 150 years ago next year.
Meanwhile, this hymn reminds us of our open invitation. “For Thou hast stooped to ask of me / The love of my poor heart.” It’s the least I can do. What joy, indeed! AMEN.
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I’m pleased to be part of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative. My talented colleagues: