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God is in joy

March 31, 2025

Isaiah 65:17-25 | John 4:43-54 |Psalm 30:1-6, 11-13

Here we are! We are almost halfway through Lent; if you are like me, your journey is beginning to slog along, losing some of the best intentions we started with. It was with great joy that I read the texts for today where the focus is on being deeply in relationship with a God who delights in us as his people and wants to be “in joy” with them. While the readings made me happy, I believe God is calling us to look past the superficial and go deep with our relationship to find divine joy.

When I read Isaiah, I was reminded of the consecration of the Rt. Rev. Barbara Harris as Bishop of Massachusetts in 1989. Barbara was the first female Bishop in the Anglican Communion. She had a deep relationship with God. She chose the music that would be sung during the part of the service where she entered and approached the altar. It was an old, lively spiritual and she danced her way down the aisle to make her commitment to God and God’s people. I was privileged to be there (eight months pregnant) and was amazed at the depth of joy that radiated within her and spread to those of us who were present (my yet unborn son even kicked in time to the music). One could sense God’s delight. Isaiah tells us God will restore heaven and earth to God’s vision where God can be “in joy” with the people of God, calling us into a shared relationship every day, all day. What joy, what hope!

John tells us the story of Jesus restoring the health of an official’s son, who believed in Jesus’ power without seeing “signs and wonders.” Jesus told him to go, that his son was restored. The official’s joy was so great on seeing his son well that his entire household became believers! Divine joy changes lives.

Psalm 30 is much more personal as it provides insight into God’s caring for us, his people. We are reminded that even in challenging times, God desires us to be restored so that we may join God “in joy,” becoming a light to those around us. Again, I am reminded of Bishop Harris’ favorite words “Hallelujah, anyway.” We choose how we respond to our world. Many in this day respond out of fear in anger, lashing out. No matter what the circumstances are around us, God calls us to praise, “hallelujah, anyway.” Just imagine a life of praising God with joy and hope! How many lives could be changed.

Enjoy this story behind a beloved hymn to GOD 

Cindi Lovejoy