|
Read: Psalm 51:1 -12
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and sustain in me a willing spirit.
Psalm 51:12
Psalm 51 opens with King David crying out for mercy, forgiveness, and restoration. His selfish taking of Bathsheba has resulted in the King’s humiliation before God and Israel. Hear David’s plea in verse 21:
“Revive my flagging spirit, O God. Restore to me the joy and assurance of a right relationship with you. Reinstate me in your purposes and help me to avoid the snares and pitfalls along the way.” (Psalms Now, 1973).
David had lost the deep joy he experienced in his relationship with God. Joy is important. Who doesn’t want joy? We experiment with a wide variety of sources for joy in our lives. We are bombarded with all manner of lesser things that promise joy. Yet, in the end we discover that they are just that –lesser things.
David forgot the source of ultimate joy, where he could be his best self, his relationship with God. David had a relationship problem. Advent affords us an entire week to focus on joy and our relationships. If we are honest, we also have relationship problems.
When I think about joy it always leads to faces and places. Joy looks like my family, my friends, my class members and so many other pilgrims on this faith journey. Joy looks like the beautiful mountain vistas all around us. I find deep joy in my relationships with others, with God, and with God’s creation. Advent calls me to remember that fundamental truth – it’s all about relationships!
The Advent wreath is a beautiful symbol of the intersection of our relationship with God and all of creation. Our search for joy, hope, peace and love are all found in our relationship to the Christ. It is in the context of this relationship that we can become who we were created to be, beloved children of God. What a joy!
~Terry Hammrick
| 
