JOY: the energy for justice

¡Saludos desde la Ciudad de México! Greetings from Mexico City!

This Sunday, instead of sitting in my usual pew at FBCX or lighting candles back at home, I spent the third week of Advent attending worship at the Templo Evangelico Presbiteriano in Xonacatlán, Mexico.

It's a weird feeling to be in Mexico these days—to scan my Passport with ease as my Mexican-born partner waits and waits for his tourist visa appointment. To enjoy travel, while my international friends live in fear of unfair deportations... To, yes, get some stares, but then to be told "¡qué bonita!" while my Hispanic neighbors are racially profiled, mistreated, and discriminated against.

It's a weird feeling to be in Mexico these days.

All week, I've spent time with my boyfriend and his friends and family. We've visited his hometown, gone on day trips to nearby cities, and even gone to his church!

Traditionally, his Presbyterian church does not observe Advent ("Umm... We're not Catholic"), so we went through the usual line-up of music, scripture, and a sermon about generosity. However, even though we didn't light the candle of joy, joy still filled every inch of that blue-walled congregation:) Through enthusiastic song, smiling pastors, and warm hugs... God's joy was everywhere.

Pink Candle Week

It's Joy Week in the Advent Calendar (or, as I called it as a kid, "pink candle week"). All around the globe, millions of Christians honor stories of joy, remember Mary's song of praise, and thank God for the gift of Jesus. It's a good week in the Christmas season:) It's a joyful week... But, as with every feeling, it's a bit complicated.

To me, joy has always meant feeling the presence of God. I feel joy when I am grounded—when I am present, receptive, and listening for God's voice. Even when I experience difficulty (which, I'll be honest, this semester has been full of), I can take a moment to breathe and connect with the joy of God.

In my joy-seeking, though, I've noticed this: When we experience God's joy—when we see a glimpse of God's face—our joy has the power to restore faith. Joy is restorative, and it exists in every moment.

But again... It's complicated.

Energy, Not a Bandaid

This morning, I started my day by reading the news (I don't recommend). I read about the murder of Rob and Michele Reiner. I read about the president's unacceptable, deeply saddening response. I watched an interview with a young student who'd survived the Brown University shooting (her second survived shooting). And I saw more stories of the mistreatment of documented and undocumented American residents.

My heart was heavy... My sadness was deep. And I realized:

Joy is our strength. It's a gift from God, and without it, this life would not be bearable... But joy is not the band-aid that allows us to ignore injustice and move on. Instead, it's the energy that lets us keep our sanity while we join the fight.

This week, I've experienced God's joy in more ways than I can count: hospitality and generosity from new friends, a mutual commitment to communicate (¡Mi español está mejorando!), listening to a young girl practice her solo for the upcoming cantata, seeing so many beautiful colors, foods, traditions, churches, landmarks, and buildings.

But alongside this joy—alongside the hundreds of examples of Mexican citizens welcoming me with open arms even as an American—I am reminded of the deep injustice that plagues the United States (xenophobia, racism, anti-immigrant rhetoric, and the mistreatment of Brown people).

"When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God" (Leviticus 19:33-34).

In just a few days, our Savior arrives. He may not look like you. He will not grow up speaking or worshipping like you. His parents are searching for shelter. He is far from home.

...

It's tempting to run to the joy of God as an escape—an escape from the news, from the hate, from the responsibility of using our privilege.

But, this Christmas, as we set up our nativities full of a young mother, poor shepherds, unlikely witnesses, and a refugee Savior... The Christmas story is demanding that we use God's joy, not as an escape, but as our strength.

Advent People, as we light these candles, may we find comfort in experiencing God's joy in the present moment... And then, may we stand up against those who steal joy from others. This is how we prepare for our Savior's birth. Amen.