From the Assistant Bishop
The Joy of our Salvation
The Rt Revd David Bassett Assistant Bishop
For a number of us we have journeyed through Lent focusing on joy, using the Lenten studies written by the Australian Bishops. It seemed odd to be reflecting on joy during Lent which has traditionally been a more sombre time of penitence, denial and discipline. The more I’ve spent time in reflecting on joy as an expression of God’s goodness and presence in the world, and how we can have a deep, deep joy that is stronger than our circumstances, the greater my realisation has been on the true gift of God that joy is to us.
The Psalmist prays this prayer in Psalm 51:12, ‘restore to me the joy of your salvation’. As we enter into Holy Week and focus again on the self-giving of Jesus who, for our sake faces a horrific death, the innocent in place of the guilty, we see again the cost of the salvation that God so freely offers to all who call upon him.
We mark the solemn hours of Jesus death and burial, encapsulated in the darkness that spread over the land. But this darkness, this suffering, is turned into joy when, on Easter Day, we stand outside the empty tomb and hear the angel speak to the women ‘Do not be afraid … He is not here; for he has been raised’.
Matthew in his account then tells us the women left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy (Matthew 28.8).
In that paradox of fear and joy, we begin to understand what the gift of joy is. Here is a gift from God that is deeper and stronger and more real than the unknowns of life, or the troubles, or the torments, or uncertainties, or the disappointments. This joy, the joy that comes from our salvation is a joy unlike any other. It is not dependent of our circumstances. Its not like the fleeting sense of happiness that we find evaporates so easily if everything is not all right. This joy is deeper and becomes part of our very being as it comes from our restored relationship with the God who created us, the God who redeemed us, the God who is with us, the God who is forever faithful. This joy is the joy that comes from our salvation. The joy that we find by knowing the depth and breath and width and height of God’s love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord!
This is a joy that springs eternal. Isaiah speaks of us drawing water from the wells of salvation (Isaiah 12:3). It is as we remember and reflect upon our salvation, as we journey afresh through Holy Week, as we stand at the foot of the cross on Good Friday, as we wait in hopeful expectation on Holy Saturday and as we join the two Marys hearing the wonderful declaration “Do not be afraid…He is not here; for he has been raised” our joy is renewed and strengthened and encouraged.
Drink deep of this salvation. Let it refresh you anew. Let is strengthen you in faith and hope. Let it be your joy and peace always and in all things. For it is a very great and precious gift of our loving God brought to us in our Saviour, Jesus, who has died but is indeed risen!
A 17th century meditation on joy
O Christ,
All thy ways of mercy tend to end in my delight.
Thou didst weep, suffer that I might rejoice.
For my joy thou hast sent the Comforter,
multiplied thy promises,
shown me my future happiness,
given me a living fountain.
Thou art preparing joy for me and me for joy;
I pray for joy, wait for joy, long for joy;
give me more that I can hold, desire, or think of.
Measure out to me my times and degrees of joy,
at my work, business, duties.
If I weep at night, give me joy in the morning.
Let me rest in the thought of thy love,
pardon for sin, my title to heaven,
my future unspotted state.
Let my heart leap towards the eternal sabbath,
where the work of redemption is finished and perfected for ever,
where thou wilt rejoice over me with joy.
There is no joy like the joy of heaven.