In The Beginning There Was Joy

One of my favourite so-called “children’s” books was composed by Matthew Fox, a renegade Roman Catholic – and now Episcopal (Anglican) – priest. It’s entitled In The Beginning There Was Joy; it’s a celebration of the creation, written playfully and hopefully about the creation of all things.

God is cast as two characters, husband and wife, Mr and Mrs Joy. The Joys decide to create “a girl and a boy to share our joy”, and so the whole creation is formed as a place of wonder in which to celebrate. It’s a wonderful and silly book, asserting beauty and art and music and, in everything, hope.

Joy is inherent in their name and their origin, in their purpose, and God’s children are entrusted with this hope.

When there is trouble, rise up from the rubble
and remember your origin and source of our name.

How easily we (I?) become sombre when we consider our creation, and our stumblings within it. Addressing our world becomes a burden so easily, as we confront much of what is hurt and broken. And yet, at its heart and in its outworking, our story is one of joy, of hope.

Jesus arrives in town following the imprisonment of John the Baptist, inviting all who heard to change their minds and hear good news. Good news! John is in gaol and he’s talking about good news? Innocent children and their families are imprisoned, nations are at war, girls are prevented from education and he’s talking about good news?

There it is. Jesus is not naïve, and nor was John. This is not about ignoring the world, but about embracing it and us. Within minutes of his announcement, it seems Jesus is casting out demons, healing clusters of those who are sick, doing some advanced roofing work and tucking into meals with forgiven (read: “the wrong”) people.

I would imagine there was some joy for those who found healing and life, forgiveness and new purpose.

Good news? God is here and is intending to heal the world. God is here and is offering forgiveness to any who wish to receive it. God is here – to bless, to restore, to make whole.

Matthew Fox proclaims that the driving energy for all God’s action is the joy God feels, which is reflected in all that God does.

As we are confronted by brokenness and injustice, in our own lives as well as the world around us, we turn to the source of our hope and our life.

Consider the joy of so many people this week in the Country Music festival, dancing, whooping and clapping along to the Perch Street Jug Band, or the Hillbilly Goats and realise how much more we have to celebrate.

Consider the joy of knowing that the Lord of all creation has stepped in to save and renew because we are loved.

Consider the joy which sparked the creation is inherent in God’s act in Jesus and we have an opportunity to live that joy in our own lives.

Joy is your heritage – the family that made you
give it and receive it
and don’t ever leave it.
To Joy be true.
And never forget to play every day.
Now and forever.
A holy endeavour.
Worlds without end.
Amen.

[Matthew Fox: In the Beginning there was Joy, Crossroad Publishing, 1995]