Light Where Hope Falters

Radical Advent 2023

Fritz Eichenberg, The Christ of the Breadlines, 1951, wood-cut

Costly Joy

This Sunday Anglicans across North America and beyond will light the Gaudete Candle, the only candle that breaks in color from the dark purples of Advent to a light shade of rose pink. Sunday marks the halfway point in the journey toward Christmas, offering a break in the dark clouds of night to the coming joy that will be revealed in Christ’s Incarnation. 

The first week of Advent we contemplated the glimmers of hope in unusual places where Christ is found. Last week we considered our deep desire for peace in the chaos of this age. Today, let us reflect on the in-breaking of joy even in sorrow.  

Where is joy? 

Where do you see joy? 

Where do you hear joy? 

Taste joy? 

Feel joy?

Maybe even smell joy? 

Consider the words of the poet: “We must have the stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless furnace of this world. To make injustice the only measure of our attention is to praise the Devil.”

Joy, like the joy in the woman’s face in the sketch above by Fritz Eichenberg, pushes back the darkness and gives us glimpses of that endless joy to come. For Christians, joyful celebration (even of the little things) is an act of war. In our joy, we declare that tragedy, violence, pain, and tears do not have the final word.

The final word belongs to our King, the Lord of the Dance, the Bridegroom of the Feast! 

Fritz Eichenberg, Untitled, Sketch

“We must risk delight. We can do without pleasure,

but not delight. Not enjoyment. We must have

the stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless

furnace of this world. To make injustice the only

measure of our attention is to praise the Devil.”

 

Excerpt from “A Brief For The Defense” by Jack Gilbert

Reflection Questions

  • Who do you know that lives in deep joy? Would you expect them to be so joyful if you had never met them but read their life story in a newspaper or book? 

  • How is it that it is often the people facing life’s trickiest circumstances know a joy that is stronger than those who might seem to “have it together?”

Lean in and Learn:  Statistical Joy in Giving and Receiving

Isn’t it inspiring when academic research, whether in the hard sciences or social sciences, supports how God made the world and the biblical story and description of what it means to be human? According to many studies, from multiple research institutes and happiness analysis, this is what is shown:

Improves Mental Health

  • Volunteering reduces stress and increases positivity and relaxation by releasing dopamine.

  • By spending time in service to others, volunteers report feeling a sense of meaning and appreciation, both given and received, which can reduce stress.

  • Connects you with others.

  • Builds self-confidence and self-esteem.

  • Helps you forget your own problems.

  • By measuring hormones and brain activity, researchers have discovered that being helpful to others delivers immense pleasure.

  • For people who never volunteered, the odds of being 'very happy' rose 7% among those who volunteer monthly, and 12% for those who volunteer every two to four weeks.

  • Sources: Mayo Clinic, London School of Economics, National Youth Agency


Improves Physical Health

  • Reduced stress further decreases the risk of some physical and mental health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, depression, anxiety, and general illness. 

  • In addition, people who volunteer have lower mortality rates than those who do not, even when controlling for age, gender, and physical health.

  • 'High volunteers' (helping out at two or more organizations) had a 63% lower mortality rate than non-volunteers. Adults over 50 who volunteered regularly were less likely to develop high blood pressure (hypertension) compared to non-volunteers. 

  • Sources: Mayo Clinic, Carnegie Mellon University, British Medical Journal


Bonus information about Serving “the least of these”

  • Improves career pathways.

  • Invites inter-generational relationships.

  • Unifies unexpectedly across demographic and cultural divides.

  • Doesn't have to involve a long-term commitment. Even giving in simple ways can help those in need and improve your overall health and happiness.

  • Sources: Washington University, University Texas at Austin