(1 Thessalonians 5:16-24)
Think back to late March 2023. In Utah, a courtroom drama was unfolding that captured the nation’s attention for at least 48 hours — eons in the Twitter and TikTok era.
Terry Sanderson, a retired optometrist, had been in litigation with Academy Award-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow for seven years, ever since a collision between the two of them in 2016 on the slopes of a Utah skiing resort. Now they faced each other in court. Sanderson had lowered his claim from $3.1 million to $300,000, and Paltrow had countersued, seeking $1 and attorney fees.
Witnesses were called. Statements were made. Both litigants took the stand. And when the dust settled, Paltrow prevailed, and the long ordeal was over.
Except for what she said as she left the courtroom. Her words became an internet meme.
According to Sanderson himself, her exact words were: “Wish you well.”
She had walked behind his table, paused, placed a hand in the small of his back and whispered words intended for his ears only.
According to Sanderson, he replied, “Thank you, dear.”
Although some critics wondered if she wasn’t sticking it to him, most observers agree that the exchange was genuine. She did, indeed, wish him well.
Today, the Advent candle in the wreath is not blue or purple; it is pink. It symbolizes joy. On this third Sunday of Advent, we celebrate joy. Today is also known as Gaudete Sunday, from the Latin, Gaudete, meaning “rejoice.” Gaudete is also the first word of the Catholic mass for this day, which begins, “Gaudete in Domino semper: iterum dico, Gaudete.” These words are lifted from Philippians 4:7, the Advent 3 epistle reading in year C: “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice.”
But Gaudete is also the first word of today’s epistle reading: “Rejoice” (1 Thessalonians 5:16).
The text goes on to urge, “Pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil” (vv. 17-22).
All these phrases have internet meme potential. “Pray without ceasing.” “Give thanks.” “Test everything.” “Hold fast to what is good.”
Paltrow said, “Wish you well.” On Gaudete Sunday, and during Advent and the Christmas season, we wish people well. It’s what we do. We send best wishes. We hope for the best as the year comes to an end.
So today, we light the candle of joy. It’s pink. It’s a happy and joyous color. It’s the color of birthday candles. Joy is the one thing without which Christmas cannot happen. You can take away the Christmas tree, carols, gifts, lights, and tinsel. But take away joy and Christmas is impossible.
Our Christian faith is nothing if it isn’t about joy. The third Sunday of Advent is a timely reminder of this.
But the big surprise is that joy – deep, profound, smile-widening joy – is the astonishing gift of the Christian life when it is lived in the Spirit of Christ! The Bible continually reminds us of this.
We are blessed to be in possession of joy that is not affected by the turbulence about us. It’s like the stillness of the ocean below the surface. The waves may be high, but in the depths of one’s soul, there’s a peace and joy that “passes understanding.”
The ancient prophet expresses it this way:
Though the fig tree does not blossom,
and no fruit is on the vines;
though the produce of the olive fails
and the fields yield no food;
though the flock is cut off from the fold
and there is no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will exult in the God of my salvation.
God, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
and makes me tread upon the heights. ~ Habakkuk 3:17-19
It seems as though we are to never be without joy! Perhaps this is because the Bible describes joy as a “fruit” that is produced on the vine of the Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul puts it this way: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22).
But there’s more:
- “Rejoice in hope” (Romans 12:12).
- “Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy” (1 Peter 1:8).
- Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete” (John 16:24).
On Joy Sunday, the good news is that joy is a quality — an attitude of heart and mind — that we never need to be without. Nor would we want to, for “a cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones” (Proverbs 17:22).
Joy is such a universally acknowledged boon to happiness and health that we wish it on others as well. Perhaps this is best expressed in the tune we sing to wish others a merry Christmas:
We wish you a merry Christmas,
We wish you a merry Christmas,
We wish you a merry Christmas,
And a happy new year!
Good tidings we bring,
To you and your kin,
Good tidings for Christmas,
And a happy new year.
We wish you a merry Christmas! Of course, we do! This is our duty, task and privilege to wish merriment, and it’s also the mission of the church at large.
And what is the alternative? That we don’t wish others a merry Christmas? That we don’t wish them well? That we don’t hope that their lives are filled with the joy of the season?
If we name the name of Jesus – the baby in the cradle – then we, of all God’s children, are the people who wish well for others, and try to be the agents of that happiness in their lives!
But, alas, this image of the Christian being an arbiter, agent and ambassador for joy and goodwill is sadly and horribly tarnished these days. No need to go into the gory details, but as a church, we’re not doing well. To many, Christians have a political agenda, and they’re extremely judgmental and negative. The one thing Christians don’t have, says Jane and John Q. Public, is an agenda of love and joy.
Yes, we could point to the marvelous faith-based NGOs like Samaritan’s Purse, the Salvation Army, Lutheran World Relief, Children’s Hunger Relief Fund, and others that offer hope and happiness to millions of the marginalized around the world. Unfortunately, the attitudes and actions of one gloomy Gus or contentious Karen will nullify a hundred messages of good cheer and scores of harbingers of hope brought by Christians who prefer to lift up Christ rather than tear down children of God.
Advent is a time of soul-searching. What sort of joy ambassadors are we?
“We Wish You a Merry Christmas” has a few more verses you might recall:
Now bring us a figgy pudding;
Now bring us a figgy pudding;
Now bring us a figgy pudding
and a cup of good cheer.
We won’t go until we get some;
We won’t go until we get some;
We won’t go until we get some,
so bring some out here.
Wait! What is figgy pudding, and are we sure we want to give this to our guests?
Figgy pudding – also known as plum pudding or Christmas pudding – is a staple of the British Christmas table. “It resembles something like a cannonball, and it maybe feels a bit like a cannonball when it hits your stomach, but it’s tradition and we love it,” says one connoisseur speaking to NPR’s Michel Martin. Although it’s called figgy pudding, the dessert features neither figs nor plums. Nor is it pudding in the sense that we Americans think of pudding – a creamy, custardy dish. Instead, it’s a steamed cake full of raisins, currants, and brandy.
One might argue that the world is clamoring for figgy pudding. Their message is, “We won’t go until we get some.”
They want dessert. But what they often get is a desert – a landscape that’s dry, inhospitable, and joyless.
The task of the church is to offer dessert!
It’s easy to do all of this when Christmas tree lights are twinkling, carols are in the air, presents are being exchanged and we’re with loved ones. It’s not as easy when we’re outside of the family hearth and home, in the world living as agents of change … and when it is not December, but the cold reality of January and a new year.
When taking a first step or adopting a new attitude, it’s best to avoid delay.
Perhaps, as the congregation leaves the worship, they might be encouraged to whisper, “Wish you well.” It’s a ritual like passing the peace.
The people might be further encouraged to repeat the exercise when they leave the walls of the church and step into the world.
Without joy and goodwill, Christmas can’t be Christmas.
Wishing others well.
It’s what we do.
Amen.
