Advent Week 3: Choosing Joy
When I looked up Luke 2:10 on biblehub.com, one word stayed the same in every single translation of the verse. That one word was joy.
Gospel Joy
Verse 9 says that the angel appeared “suddenly” and scared
the shepherds. And the angel told them
(verse 10) to not be afraid because he had good news that would bring joy to all people. That good news was the Gospel – Jesus.
Then this means Jesus brings joy. Following Him is a choice. Therefore joy
becomes a choice. Gospel…joy.
Eucharistic Joy
In November, I wrote about chara joy as part of the idea of eucharisteo. Ann Voskamp
concluded that, “…as long as thanks is possible….Joy is always possible.” Thanksgiving, in all situations, is possible,
therefore joy is always possible. Unlike
pain or excitement, that are natural ups and downs of life, thanksgiving, and
ultimately joy, is a choice.
When I’m having a great day, it is so easy to be thankful
and choose joy. But in the bad days, I
struggle to choose joy. In his letter to
the Philippians, Paul used the word “joy” 16 times in four chapters. He was in jail about to die and he chose joy.
Joy as a choice has been only a few month old discovery of
mine. So I took the challenge of listing
1000 gifts. Some days the words flow out
of my pen. Other days I slowly come up
with one or two things. But if I’m intentional in choosing to be
grateful, I will learn to habitually choose joy each day. Thanksgiving…joy
Joy is a choice. You
choose to following the true joy
found in following Christ. After making
that choice, you must choose thanksgiving to find the habitual joy only found in through the Eucharist.
