As we have moved through this worship series about pressing on even in the midst of suffering, anxiety, worry and fear, I have been reflecting on this letter from Paul to the church in Philippi.
I have thought about Paul’s urging that this 
early church community facing real persecution needed to live as one that was Christ-centered, full of love and confidence, doing its best to stay united in community even when and as differences arose, right-sizing itself to do the mission and ministry they were called to, and allowing grace to permeate everything they did. And now we come to this last part of the letter that tells this community they are Paul’s joy even as he sits in prison uncertain of his own fate.
This part also contains a famous verse: “Rejoice in the Lord always! Again, I say rejoice! (4:4). And I wonder how do they practice joy? How do they rejoice in this time of sorrow? How can Paul be so joyful in prison?
As I thought about all of this, I found myself asking this question: What Jesus do I “see” when I think of Jesus? Is it the serious, angular, radiating calm and peace Jesus from Franco Zeffirelli’s “Jesus of Nazareth.” Robert Powell perfected that steely, loving, piercing look. Or do I “see” Jesus as the one depicted in “Godspell,” he of the multi-colored striped pants, superman top and a heart painted on his forehead. That Jesus had moments of seriousness too (I can’t get through “On the Willows” without crying).
But in Godspell – Jesus is so full of joy and leads his disciples with laughter and dancing and the assurance of God’s promises of love and grace and mercy and compassion and forgiveness and that list goes on. Which Jesus do I “see” and do I have to choose or do I just need to realize that both depictions of Jesus are real and contain moments of both – seriousness and joy?
Can it be that seriousness without joy is a stale, legalistic way of practicing Christianity and joy without seriousness could be construed as pollyannish thinking and living. Rose-colored glasses if you will.
Joy according to Columba Marmion (1858–1923), a 20th century spiritual writer, is the echo of God’s life in us. Spiritual joy is a deep-seated belief in God’s promises and assurances to us. Joy then lives and flows through us. Paul writes further in the letter in verses 5-8 this: Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, 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. (NRSV) Maybe Godspell Jesus and Jesus of Nazareth Jesus are really one and the same. This joy echoes God’s life in us.
Paul says ground your life as a Christ-centered individual and community of faith in joy and the rest will flow through you into the wider community. Through you others will experience real joy! The joy of knowing there is a God who loves them, includes them as beloved children and there is a place they can belong to soaking in this love. Then peace (that serious, calming sense of true peace) will reach them.
Dr. Lisa Hancock writes this in her commentary: “…joy isn’t a luxury or a distraction. Joy is vital. We can’t do this thing called life without it. And more importantly, we don’t have to manufacture it. Joy is a gift, an act of grace in our lives that points us back to God and flows out of us to others. Joy gives us sustenance to maintain life, hope, resilience, and perseverance, even in the most impossible circumstances.”[1]
Joy is vital – even our Westminster Shorter Catechism written in 1647 acknowledges this when it asks: What is the chief end of man? The answer: Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. Spiritual writer Brian McLaren notes this: “To be alive in the adventure of Jesus is to have a desire, a dream, a hope for the future. It is to translate that hope for the future into action in the present and to keep acting in light of it.”[2]
And, that desire, dream and hope comes from joy – the assurance that God is in the mix of our lives. That joy in God can be counted on. It is the only way to keep pressing on in the midst of suffering, anxiety, worry and fear – knowing that together we can trust God’s promises, have joy even while being serious about the work we do in mission and ministry, that we can enjoy God and sing and laugh and dance and pray and reflect together!
So yes, my answer to the question of Always Rejoice in the Lord? – You betcha! And, never stop!
Let’s do our breath prayer: (Breathe in) I rejoice in God, (breathe out) because God’s love will never let me go. Amen! Wave your wands if you feel like it!
[1] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/pressing-on-worship-series/week-4-twentieth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-a, accessed 8.21.26
[2] https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-prophetic-dream-of-peace/, accessed 8.21.26