There’s an awful lot of joy about in today’s Evensong
Our introit reminded us “This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it”
Psalm 126 reminds us of the joy of God’s restoration
“those who sow in tears shall reap in joy”
and our Old Testament reading from Zephaniah is so flooded with jubilation that it touches both God and God’s people with equal delight.
Let me remind you:
“Sing aloud O daughter Zion….Rejoice and exalt with all your heart”…
God has done it again!
Removing judgement, God too is swept up in the celebration...in fact, God looks at God’s people and SINGS FOR JOY
“He will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exalt over you with loud singing, as on the day of festival”
It’s as well that this is where our readings point us, as I’m distinctly joyful myself. Indeed, I’m in that rather irritating state of bursting into song at random moments, wandering round with a silly grin just because.
You see, I’m just back from our first in person gathering of OFM after the pandmic break.
On Fire is the Catholic Charismatic conference whose blend of word and sacrament, of catholic spirituality and spirit- filled worship never fails to restore my soul and renew ME in God’s love. It’s always an extraordinary time, as a community forms around the person of Christ, full of expectation that God will be present, active, transformative… And because we are all expectant, all on the look-out , the Holy Spirit is very much in evidence, doing her thing pretty much wherever we turn.
Sometimes, of course, the work of the Spirit is to enthuse, inspire, set hearts and minds ablaze with the wonder of love and the power of grace. It’s not altogether unknown to find yourself unexpectedly dancing for joy (in a very well-behaved, Anglican way, of course!)
Sometimes she is more about persuading us out of our comfort zones, to take on the world for the sake of God’s Kingdom
Sometimes, as was my experience last week as Conference Chaplain, she is all about confirming our calling, inviting us into the place where our deepest joy and the needs of the world meet, so that we find ourselves living the best version of ourselves with heart and soul and work all in perfect alignment.
Sometimes, before any of that can happen, there is a great work of healing to be done.
Last week, again and again, I found myself listening to beautiful, broken, beloved children of God who had been persuaded by the words and attitudes of some in the Church that they were somehow not good enough, not wanted, not really part of the family.
They told me precious stories, replete with holiness, that tapered off into tears, because, of course, for some of them rejection by the Church was equated with rejection by God as well.
And I, with the privilege of listening as hard as I could, with one ear to them and the other tuned to the voice of the Spirit, found myself saying
“God looked at all God had made and it was very good.”
“You are fearfully and wonderfully made”
and, again and again,
God rejoices over you with loud singing.
So, can I say it once more to you tonight.
If anyone or anything has ever made you wonder if you really belong
If anyone has spoken words that diminish you and wound your soul.
If you have every doubted for a moment that God’s overwhelming, boundless love is there for you,
you are invited to joy.
Stop here and now and listen.
Listen to hear that song of God’s love for you – not a tentative, quiet song, that you might be able to miss, but a loud, unmistakeable descant of joy.
God looks at you and sings for joy.
How beautiful is that!
Let it renew you in love and call forth joy in your own heart too, for surely you DO belong, you ARE at home, and in Jesus, God has promised to stay with you to the close of the age.
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