ADVENT WEEK THREE: JOY
December 20 Rev. Jenny Wynn
Between Memory and Hope
Psalm 126
Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy.
Psalm 126:2a
Rituals are an important part of our faith. They provide structure and meaning
in our lives while helping to manage anxiety and stress. When we feel disori-
ented, rituals can help reorient us to what matters most.
Rituals connect us to our faith story. They remind us of who we are, where
we have been, and where we are going. Most importantly, rituals remind us of
God’s presence in our lives and that we belong to God.
Psalm 126 reflects a period after exile. Joy erupts in the Psalm as the com-
munity looks back on their deliverance. The psalm goes beyond an exercise
in longing for “the good old days.” It remembers the joy of the past, but it also
orients the readers toward anticipating joy. It engages both rituals of celebra-
tion and lament, using them to point to an ever-present God who meets us in
our sorrow and our joy.
How can you engage in the rituals embodied in this psalm by acknowledging
the pain while also celebrating what has been lived?
You might consider lighting a candle and naming a loss that you have expe-
rienced this year, then name a hope for the coming year. As you engage in
these rituals, remember that you are not alone.
Remember the promise of the psalmist: “Those who go out weeping, bear-
ing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their
sheaves (v. 6).”
","author_name":"Phillips Seminary"}