How do we find joy during this often crazy Christmas season?! Consider Mary’s story. Mary has just been told by the Angel that she will have a child named Jesus (cf Luke 1:31). Luke’s Gospel says “Mary went with haste to a city of Judah and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.”-Luke 1:39. Why in haste? Mary was problably afraid! The community of Nazareth would not be supportive of her pregnancy before she was married. If a woman committed adultery, then the woman and the adulterer were to be put to death (cf Leviticus 20:10). Matthews’s Gospel reveals how unusual Mary’s circumstances were in Matthew 1:18 that a baby was coming “before Joseph and Mary came together.” The moment is clear: Mary has every reason to be afraid after the announcement she will bear a Son named Jesus. Yet our scripture reading tells us that Mary rejoiced? So how did Mary find joy? That is what I want to talk about today.

Joy is the focus of not only our Third Week of Advent but also the focus of what tradition calls The Magnificat in Luke 1:49-55. It is Mary’s hymn and has for centuries been used as church liturgy in church tradition in some denominations. When Mary sees Elizabeth, what causes her to sing joyfully? “The Almighty has done great things: and holy is His name… you have brought down rulers from their thrones.”- Luke 1:49. In a tense moment in her life, Mary sings because she worships, remembering what God has done before, and that gives her joy. In several places in the Bible, singing about what God has done is what people do when they are in trouble. Exodus 15, Judges 5, 1 Samuel 2:1-10, all worship God and remember mighty things that God has done before when His people are in trouble. These texts are a great reminder of an important truth: Christian joy happens because we encounter God in worship .

George Fredric Handel’s Messiah is a Christmas favorite and a highlight of the collection of music is The Hallelujah Chorus. The Hallelujah Chorus is sung by churches all over the world at Christmas and Easter. The origin of the piece is an amazing story. Handel, was in debt and depressed. His attempts to sell music were unsuccessful. As the failures began to mount, his debt piled up and affected him financially and mentally. Handel had been influenced by composers of great music, but their influence did not result in the same success for him that they had. Life wasn’t working out for Handel.

Then, in 1741, God, in His mercy, provided a break. An admirer of Handel’s music music copied scripture and prayer for Handel in a way that inspired Handel. Handel’s assistant walked in to check on his boss one afternoon, and found Handel weeping. When asked what was wrong, Handel replied “I have seen the face of God” and held up his Hallelujah Chorus which was Handel’s score to the text copied by his friend. He was weeping with joy! The Hymn was one of the highest moments of Handel’s career. Ever since the debut of the piece in 1742, people often stand when they hear the Hallelujah Chorus. Stories vary on why. Some say the King of England, upon hearing the song the first time, stood in reverence to God, and others stood and responded to his devotion to God. What is clear is the content of the piece: God reigns, and is glorious! Handel’s embracing of Gods glory gave him not only music but as Handel’s testimony attests, God gave him great tears of joy. Is there any doubt that the writing of the Hallelujah Chorus was a moment of worship for Handel?

Friends, we will not always have the best week. We get disappointed. People let us down. Yet thanks be to God, we recover joy through encountering God in worship. When the Psalmist David laments and ponders if God has forgotten His grace, David responds to his own despair, saying: “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples.”-Psalm 77:11-14.

We have a reason to worship God joyfully ! We have a reason to be joyful. C.S Lewis was a terrific writer and one of Christianity’s greatest apologists. He calls the work of God through Christ the “Joy that cannot be shaken.” John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement wrote in his mighty hymn “Come Thou Long expected Jesus” that Jesus is the “dear desire of every nation and the joy of every longing heart.”

We find joy in Christ not just through singing or worship in the church, we find joy through obedience, what doing what God asks, which completes our joy in Him: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”- Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬. If I had to sing a Magnificat like Mary did in our text, one of the things I would sing about is the Joy that was evident at Breakfast Santa last week. Was it a lot of work? Absolutely! We had a team meet on Friday at 1:00 to move chairs and get tables set up for the event. That Saturday, the fog was thicker than I had ever seen in Mineola. Winter Wonderland in Mineola was the previous night, it was cold, and I just wasn’t sure how the day would go. Friends, it was a great day! We had to make sure we had a team after the event to set up for worship that Sunday morning. We had a member of the church send information to the schools to get the word out. Other members got pancake mix and chocolate chips so pancakes could be made. Decorations had to be put up, people had to serve, etc. It was a lot of work, but I believe it was an enjoyable experienced the joy of seeing the families show up with their kids. Everyone chowed down on pancakes, including chocolate chip, and confetti! . Eyes as wide as the Red River sat with Santa Claus and told him what he wanted for Christmas. Crafts about Jesus were made in the back, fellowship took place. Our volunteers had smiles on their faces, poured Jesus into kids with their actions, and brought a good attitude to the morning. It was a tremendous blessing. It was joy!!! Show me someone who sacrifices their time for God’s church, and I will show you someone who experiences one of the many ways to encounter joy in Christ!

Let’s be joyful in Christ at Advent. Maybe you haven’t had a great year and joy has been hard to come by. Advent reminds us that God is still active in our lives; therefore we are not alone. One of my favorite Christmas carols speaks to our joy in Christ: “God rest you merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay. Remember Christ our Saviour was born on Christmas day, To save us all from Satan’s power When we were gone astray. O tidings of comfort and joy.” In a hard time, thanks be to God that joy in Christ is still possible. Mary’s outlook of fear changed to joy when she worshipped, remembering what God had done, and by faith, will do again.

Are you joyous? As Christians, I hope we experience Christ’s joy in our families, with friends, in our workplace, and our church. The older I get, the more I find the only thing I want from God’s work is His joy. For the Christian, life is not a question of whether God can provide joy, but where will we find it? Where can God bring joy to your life? Friends, in this Advent season, keep in mind Handel’s famous Hallelujah Chorus: Hallelujah, Hallelujah For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth, The Kingdom of this world is become the Kingdom of our Lord! And of His Christ and of His Christ And he shall reign forever and ever and he shall reign forever! Friends, the joy of the Lord is your strength at Advent. Worship Him, obey Him above all else, and strength you will have. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.