December 21, 2017 by Erin

Rejoice, Rejoice

Rejoice, rejoice.
Emmanuel.

This the week of joy in the midst of longing. A feast in the middle of mourning. A contradiction and a command.

Have you ever read The Chronicles of Narnia? Remember how often we find the Narnians eating, drinking, dancing, laughing, and generally making merry? Usually the way the heroes know they’re in the right place is there’s a party going on. What makes this ragtag assembly of men and animals and mythical creatures distinct from those around them is their capacity for joy. They’re fierce in celebrating the goodness they know and experience. The Witch’s power is broken. Aslan is on the move.

Sometimes seriousness comes easier. Sadness feels more important, more true. It’s easy to dismiss the frivolity of Christmastime as a fancy, suitable for children or those in denial. Winter is everywhere, and though we have the promise of spring, the cold is what we have here and now. We know Christ is coming to make everything new, so we wait and feel the weight of sin and despair. “O come, o come, Emmanuel,” we cry. Isn’t that what Advent is all about?

And yet, this week of joy. This feast day. Even in an intentional season of penitence and longing, we focus on joy. Yes, Christ will come again, but remember this:

He has come.
He is with us.
Emmanuel.

We have the greatest cause for rejoicing the world has ever known: our God is with us. Our King has come, pushing back darkness, replacing our weariness with songs. We have been ransomed, restored, made whole and holy. He comes to make his blessings flow far as the curse is found. He is good. He is real. Our celebration of this news is no flippant thing. Unbounded joy is the only appropriate response. Only the wildest party will do.  

Let us rejoice therefore. Let us ring the bells, let us uncork bottles and feast into the night. Let our laughter be raucous, let our songs be loud. We will have music and dancing, and glasses raised to the King and his kingdom. We will have roaring fires and tall tales. We will not be outdone in celebration, for our God has dealt extravagantly with us, and our joy is real.

This is our charge, our sacred duty in world dark and cold: rejoice. The light has dawned, and our King is on the move.