Epiphany 2 C The Joy of the Lord is My Life

 Epiphany 2 C The Joy of the Lord is My Life

January 18, 1986

By Rev. Ernest F. Campbell


Last Sunday I pointed out that the theme of Epiphany was to spread the good news of Jesus

Christ to the whole world. To be more specific, I shared the plan of the evangelism committee to

invite a friend to a series of four sermons during lent, focused on a review of basic Christianity.

Our Lord has commissioned each of us to GO.... teaching the Lord, and inviting those outside

His family to be baptized into it.


In a sense we will be trying to sell someone on the benefits of accepting in faith God’s gifts of

love, forgiveness, and new possibilities…. or, as we say in our liturgy, “The innumerable benefits

procured on our behalf by His blessed passion, precious death, His mighty resurrection and

glorious ascension.”


As we make our contact, it will be important to remember that the person we are inviting is

looking at us. One legitimate question they might be thinking is whether we might be enjoying

some of the innumerable benefits of knowing Jesus. It has been said, “We may be the only bible

people read.”


Salespersons are trained to make a good first impression by their appearance, haircut, shoes

shined, etc. Studies have shone that we size someone up in the first ten seconds of contact. That

first impression tends to stick.


If we are in hopes of getting someone to consider a relationship with Christ, they will be looking

at us closely to discover what benefits that relationship might offer. First, I would like to state

my two pet peeves in how NOT to make a good impression as a Christian.


    1) The burdened soul approach – the world is evil, God is angry, it may already be too late –

        repent and die. And don’t expect that being a Christian will be any fun! Because of this

        approach, there are a lot of people out there who are convinced that religion is the end of

        fun.

        Ex) a Pastor in Holand skates to church on the sabbath. But it’s okay because He didn’t enjoy it.

        But the scripture tells us that the fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, et. If knowing Christ has

        not filled us with joy, we may have a hard time making any of the other benefits seem

        worthwhile.

    2) My second pet peeve is the Christian who thinks that the only appropriate expression is a

        sweet smile – would you guess that clergy sometimes dare to communicate with each

        other in ways that professional decorum would not allow in public? One minister who

        has since moved away from Walla Walla, came out of a meeting where the program has

        been saccharine Christian sweet. As he passed me in the hall, he whispered a prayer…

        “Good God, deliver me from ‘super Christians’”


Ex) A colleague once said as we parted, “Be good!” I replied, “I’m paid to be good.” He

answered, “No – you’re paid to be real!


When I read the Gospels, I am convinced that the abundant life our Lord came to give started

with His own joy. In todays Gospel, when John tells us of our Lord’s response to the spent wine,

John is remembering what it was like when Jesus was around.


Commentaries tell us that wine was essential at a wedding feast…the very essence of joy at a

most joyous occasion. Our Lord’s miracle of the wind is as John remembers it, the miracle of our

Lord with life itself.


When we are lonely, guilty, or bored – when life feels spent, we need to embrace the miracle of

the Lord’s joy….


         When we feel lonely the joy of knowing we are known and loved by the Lord as

            precious individuals.

         When we feel guilty the joy of knowing that Jesus Christ has paid the price for all

            our sins. The peace of the Lord erases all fear and shame.

         When we feel bored and without direction, the joy of the Lord’s Spirit to take

            things that were old and make them new, and to put the power of purpose back in

            our step.


If we hope to be instrumental in bringing someone to the Lord, we need to be the Lord’s joy flow

through us. Being free of loneliness, guilt and purposelessness is the joy of the Lord that John

remembers. How much joy? .... Fill the jars to the brim…. what quality joy?.......the very best!

Wouldn’t we say that bringing anyone to the joy we have found in the Lord would be worth all

the prayer and energy we could put into it?


Wouldn’t you expect that anyone who finds his life embraced in the joy of the Lord, will be

grateful for the invitation. Or, as we say in our liturgy, “Render unto thee most heart thanks for

the innumerable benefits procured unto us by the Lord of joy!”

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