The Advent theme we are honoring today is Joy. The spontaneous all-ages Christmas pageant we have at our church is an expression and exploration of joy. To set that up, here is a brief reflection I offered about what joy may mean for us as folks who seek God through the Way of Jesus:

Joy in the Christian experience is not the result of being somehow untouched by sadness and loss and tragedy. It’s not a denial of the difficulties and struggles of life. But rather, if we take Jesus’ hand, we are led honestly through sadness and loss and tragedy to re-emerge on the other side realizing that ultimately with God what we most fear does not have the last word. In fact, our souls gain some freedom from our worst fears. In that freedom, we can take joy in the goodness of creation, and have the strength of love to act with compassion in the face of suffering. So we can “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15).

This is not a one-and-done kind of thing. Joy is a practice, an exercise of faith, like gratitude and reverence and prayer.  

I’m reminded of the book by the poet Ross Gay, published a few years ago, called a “Book of Delights.” For a year he practiced noticing and writing about where he finds delight. It’s a practice, an exercise, like gratitude, that can lead to more joy. But it is in no way opposed to the realities of pain and difficulty. In fact, his book is very honest about tragic events in his life, and injustices like racism.

In the preface to the book, Gay reflects on the fruits of the regular practice of noticing and writing about where he finds delight:

“I felt my life to be more full of delight. Not without sorrow or fear or pain or loss. But more full of delight. I also learned this year that my delight grows—much like love and joy—when I share it.” – Ross Gay, “Book of Delights” page 6.

It is all in the sharing. So I invite us to be willing to share joy, to share delight, to share gratitude, as well as share hardship and concern and struggle … to share it all with each other, yes, but above all to share it all with God who big enough and wide enough to embrace all of all of us and to uplift in the light of the Love Supreme.

Delivered Sunday, December 21, 2025 by Rev. Nathaniel Mahlberg at the United Church of Christ at Valley Forge.

Image by NGUYEN TIEN from Pixabay (detail)