Reclaiming the Joy of Advent
Can we find joy not despite our waiting but through it? The text suggests that authentic spiritual joy might be found precisely in those moments when we engage with the tension between present reality and future hope, between what is and what will be.
Advent, Week Three
“Yes, indeed—God is my salvation.
I trust, I won’t be afraid.
God—yes God!—is my strength and song,
best of all, my salvation!”
3-4 Joyfully you’ll pull up buckets of water
from the wells of salvation.
And as you do it, you’ll say,
“Give thanks to God.
Call out his name.
Ask him anything!
Shout to the nations, tell them what he’s done,
spread the news of his great reputation!
5-6 “Sing praise-songs to God. He’s done it all!
Let the whole earth know what he’s done!
Raise the roof! Sing your hearts out, O Zion!
The Greatest lives among you: The Holy of Israel.”
(Isaiah 12:2-6 MSG)
The joy of Advent is revealed through three interconnected theological lenses that create an interesting paradox – the joy of salvation, the joy found within uncertainty, and the joy of God's present reality.
Let's take a look at each of these.
