Disturbed by Joy

A sermon by Dr. James M. Pitts, Chaplain, Furman University, Greenville, SC


"'Tis the season to be jolly," says the carol.  With bells ringing and people singing, the music of Christmas creates a festive atmosphere inviting all to celebrate.

Behind stained glass in candle lit sanctuaries, choirs sing
     "Rejoice, earth and heaven, rejoice.
     All angels, all saints of God's heaven rejoice!"
Outside, it seems like all the world is a glitter.  Lights twinkle in the darkness.  Stores and doors are draped in garlands of green.  Tensile in shimmering silver and gold reflect a kaleidoscope of color.

Well modulated voices read the traditional story of a baby being born with shepherds standing watch over their flocks, kings coming from afar kneeling before the child with gifts, and a chorus of angels singing "Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace, good will toward men."

To this familiar sound track, folks from fantasy land have added animals that talk, a little drummer boy, and pictures of Saint Nick, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, and the nostalgia of "chestnuts roasting on an open fire."

There's just something about Christmas that creates a blend of faith and fantasy.  It is difficult to discern where one begins and the other ends.

During this annual binge of feeling good there is the Christmas holiday paradox.

The flip side of red and green is gray or blue.  While others are up, a lot of folks are down and simply depressed.  To put it bluntly, they are disturbed by the joy of the holidays.

Christmas recalls, more than any other event, memories of childhood.  Christmas surfaces feelings thought forgotten.  Christmas reminds us of dreams denied.  We are painfully reminded of our sense of loss.

Lost in nostalgia, we feel left out, abandoned, and alone!  No matter how frantic our mask of activity, sooner or later, we find ourselves standing in line, waiting with cash in hand, trying to buy things that are free.

Against the chill of winter, our threadbare robes of depression barely insulate and protect our sense of sorrow.  Like an old friend, our mood of despair is carefully nurtured and grasped.  We water it with alcohol and stuff it with sweets.

We resent those who disturb our shield and defense.  Such an intrusion causes us to feel and that hurts!  We would rather be left alone in our pain.

No matter how hard we protect or retreat, Christmas comes.  Christmas with Christ crashes in upon our life and upsets our routines.

In word and deed, the event of Christ declares that God is not shut off, away from us, but is here, involved in our humanity and present in all our relationships.  In the midst of our despair and fascination with death, there is hope and life.

The coming of Christ arouses antagonism.  It did that first Christmas and it does now.

He disturbs the comfortable and predictable status quo.
He will not be contained in a manger, on a cross, or in a tomb.
He comes with the gift of life that is present for all our days.

Affluent exchanges of gifts and rich Christmas dinners are not enough.  Christ will not be romanticized in a Yuletide binge of lovelessness, superstition, big dollar signs dipped in eggnog, and a sense of nothing.

Christmas disturbs and it disturbs with joy!


     Old Zechariah the priest and his elderly wife, Elizabeth, in their senile sadness were disturbed.  Their angelic Christmas greeting said "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.  And you will have joy and gladness.  And many will rejoice at his birth."    1:13-24


     To Mary, the angelic Christmas greeting was indeed disturbing.

     "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  And behold you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.  He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there will be no end."   1:30-33


     To shepherds, the angelic Christmas greeting upset their night watch.

     "Be not afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:  "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased.   2:10-14

     To each of us, an angelic Christmas greeting comes disturbing us with joy?
     Don't be anxious or afraid, Jesus is the good news of great joy that has come to all people.

So you see, even from the beginning, Christmas was a mixed bag of feelings.  Christmas time continues to be a holiday paradox of fantasy and faith, fear and peace, sadness and joy.

As we experience this season, let's recognize the mixed feelings we bring and share with one another.

Let's reassess how we anticipate Christmas.  Are our expectations
realistic?  Are we setting ourselves up for guaranteed disappointment?

Let's remember our childhood honestly, not romantically or cynically, but realistically.

Let's talk candidly with one another about our feelings, unpleasant or happy, sad or pleasurable.

Let's get together with others to reflect upon the awe and wonder of Christmas as we hear it told in story and song in times of congregational worship.  Regardless of your feelings this Christmas, take time to praise God and proclaim his love to those about you.

By getting in touch with ourselves, our family and friends, and with God, in such activities, we will help avoid those feelings of isolation and depression that often come with the holidays.

And you know, this Christmas, we may find ourselves, like the folks involved in the first Christmas, disturbed by joy.