The passage we read from Isaiah 61 is from what is considered Third Isaiah. This follows their exile from Babylon and transformation is on their mind. We clearly see the tension between the reality of our world and the world of Isaiah. Isaiah proclaimed the year of the Lord’s favour. The idea refers to the year of Jubilee from Leviticus 25 when the restoration of past wrongs became the order of the day. The debts are wiped away, the slaves are free, and the fields are allowed to rest. Transformation was occuring. Where is God’s transformation being revealed today? What is God doing today in our lives that offers hope and restoration to a broken world?

We often see the external signs that pretend we have made a transformation. Our homes and streets have been illuminated by our bright lights, our candles, our festive music. Our schedules are filled with tireless activities. Advent is an internal transformation of the heart that will alter our lives and our world.

Remember the song,

Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice,
Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice!
Rejoice, rejoice, and again I say rejoice,
Rejoice, rejoice, and again I say rejoice!

Paul, in Philipians, encourages his readers to live joyfully. We struggle to find joy and see manifestations of joy in our world. Today, we will be challenged to develop our own spiritual habits that cultivate joy in our lives.

We read, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.” Joy is not happiness. Happiness is pursued and is dependent upon the right circumstances.

The next verse says, “Let your gentleness be known to everyone.” Another understanding for that word is humility or reasonableness. Let your reasonableness be evident. When I am honest with myself and my motives, that changes how I interact with others.

Paul’s encouragement continues, “Do not worry about anything.” Easier said than done, is it not? Paul was sitting in prison writing to a church that was wracked with conflict. We all know how difficult it is to pray when our minds are wracked with worry. Paul continues, “..but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” When we make a choice to pray with thanksgiving, especially when we are worried or anxious, our focus shifts.

Frederick Buechner writes that Paul simply tells the Philippians that in spite of their difficulties–”even in the thick of them–they are to keep in constant touch with the One who unimaginably transcends the worst things as the One also unimaginably transcends the best.” We open ourselves to the possibility of joy in knowing that the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds.

And speaking of our mind, where can joy best be birthed in our own lives? Paul provides the suggestion, “Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” In other words, center our minds on the things that provide trust, hope, peace, and in doing so, joy.

How do we make these practices a reality in our lives? In the last sentence of this passage, Paul offers encouragement to think about what is true and honorable and just. This doesn’t mean that when I go about my day I don’t get sucked into the world, but it does mean I don’t have to stay there.

Notice there are 8 recommendations to “think on these things”. Imagine making this our spiritual practice to intentionally focus each day on the things that are worthy and offer us an alternative to endless orbiting around our suffering. I will pay attention to my words. Are they truthful? A question attributed to Socrates asks, “Is it true; is it kind, or is it necessary?”

Think about what is pure. Is there anything in our world that is pure? Look for it. The purity of a smile. A gesture of gratitude is pure. If Paul’s recommendations became our intention, imagine how much less we would focus on our worry. Consider this a spiritual practice because unless we intentionally think about these things, they will remain invisible to us.

Here is the rub: I live with anxiety and worry. I haven’t done “it” right, I’m not prepared for (fill in the blank.) Today offers us the possibility of making new choices. Paul encourages that when we keep on doing the things that we have learned and received and heard and seen, the God of peace is with us. That is joy.