Rejoice!

So we're driving as a family this week, and my 4-year-old son half-asks and half-declares, “Do you even like Christmas, Dad?” No one is a better mirror to your heart than a child. You see, I had just been verbally observing the lack of quality in people’s yard decorations (I know, I know, I'm a monster). Obviously, my tone caused my precious boy to wonder whether his Daddy had something against the holiday altogether. That gave me pause. Certainly, my children don't wonder if I like Advent: we faithfully light our candles and read the prophets and sing hymns of hope and longing for four weeks every year. No doubt I overcompensate in my zeal against vapid, consumer-driven cheer. But is it true that my holiday heart echoes the terrible state of seasons in Narnia under the witch-queen Jadis, where it was "always winter and never Christmas?" Gosh, I hope not.It strikes me as the best kind of irony that every Advent season Jim assigns me to preach the third Sunday: Joy week. For those who might not know me well, I don't exactly come across as the "pink candle" kind of guy. Maybe it's penance for my apparently not-so-cheerful disposition, as though he's hoping if I just study joy enough I'll find some. Probably it's just convenient for him to get in an extra week of preparation for the climactic events of the season. Either way, here we are again: my fourth Advent at St. Patrick and the gang is getting their "Joy" message from Charlie Brown, yet again.And I love it. The reason I love it is that I am convinced of this truth: if a guy like me can find joy, it's got to be the real thing. I caught my children lamenting the other day that the new Grinch isn’t nearly nasty enough. "What’s the point of even talking about a Grinch who doesn’t steal Christmas?" In other words, who cares about the conversion of a nice guy? I haven’t seen the film, but I appreciate the sentiment. Makes me think of Scrooge and Saul of Tarsus. For us, joy has never been cheaply found but is rather fully the fruit of the Spirit's work in us.So, I hope to see you this Sunday, and I hope you find me a credible witness to the power of the incarnation, when Jesus put joy where even surly curmudgeons can find it.