The exiles, including the lay reader's nightmare list of
names in the omitted verses, have returned from captivity to begin the slow
process of rebuilding Jerusalem which includes reestablishing the rituals of the
faith community. Outside the gate the preachers preach and the people respond
with liturgy, Amen, Amen, lifting hands and bowing down. But when the ritual
reading is explained and the people understand they begin to weep and wail and
mourn. They weep because they know who they are in the light of the law and how
they have grieved the One who brought them out of exile. They weep because they
are afraid that God knows what they know. But there is another lesson to learn
and if they had seen it coming they would have laughed out loud and shouted
alleluia. God is not grieved. God is not angry. God is not weeping. This is
God’s day of rejoicing and it is because of them. Surprise! So dry your eyes
and wash your face. Break out the bubbly and forget your diet for a day for you
are the joy of the Lord and that is your strength. That is a good lesson for us
as well. As long as we think of the joy of the Lord as an emotion we have or
can get we will inevitably end up weakened and weeping. But since the joy of
the Lord is the Lord's joy over us it is constant and can never be diminished or depleted and
therein lies our strength. In God’s joy we endure. In God’s joy we persevere.
In God’s joy we hope. And yes, in God’s joy we rejoice. The only thing to do
with that kind of strength is to share with those who have nothing prepared
because, of course, that is what God has done for us.
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