First Preached Trinity 5 11th July 2004
Colossians 1.1-14 : Luke 10.25-37 Proper 10C
Colossae. Where is it? Up the Meander River and turn right up the Lycus Valley. This part of what we now call Turkey; it was very much the cradle of early Christianity.
To this Church Paul writes, because they need encouragement and some degree of correction. (He had never been there, merely sent one of his henchmen, Epaphras, but as Apostle he is the one with the authority to correct and to lay down doctrine.)
What they really need is a full confidence in Christ and Paul will have much to say about what Jesus has achieved for us.
However Paul starts off by telling them what they are doing right. There is much to be thankful for. They are full of faith and love, (v4) and they are full of hope. (v5)
Moreover it seems that their Church was growing (v6)
So what does Paul wish for them? Basically more of the same, more of the knowledge of God, which their faith implies, more good works and fruitfulness.
But one of his wishes couples things that we normally separate: Endurance and patience and joy. If someone needs patient endurance it usually indicates that there is not much going on to make them happy. Yet the New Testament (Not only Paul) makes frequent references to Joy in the face of suffering. (Acts 13.52, 2Cor 7.4, 8.2, Heb 10.34 12.2 James 1.2 1Pet 1.6-8)
Joy was a mark of the early church. (Love also of course -Agape a little used word in the ancient world which Christians made their hallmark).
Joy – it was not a joyful age. Even their statues look gloomy. It looked back to a golden age rather than forward to the future. The quote “Count no man happy till he is dead. Until then he is merely fortunate.” will do to sum up the attitude and send everyone over the edge into depression. (In strict honesty it dates well before the N.T. Period. It has various attributions eg Solon c. 638 BC–558 BC & Aeschylus 525 BC – 456 BC. However the multiplicity of sources and its frequent repetition indicate that it was a widespread attitude.)
Christians had joy because they had their eyes lifted up. They had the promise, the inheritance with the Saints in light. So even death was not a source of gloom, but a gateway to glory.
What a pity that joy is not a word people associate with Church.
I have never seen a General synod report advocating more Joy, nor is there a Diocesan advisor on Joy. . As a mater of fact, surveys for what they are worth show that religion does promote a sense of well-being. (The Wikipedia article on happiness has a section on religion, with a selection of references to original sources)
Of course it cannot be planned. Joy/ happiness can only happen on by accident. Even so positive document as the U.S. constitution only gives a right to “The pursuit of happiness”, with no guarantee you will catch up with it But if Joy is a consequence of something else. What is that something? It is the sense of being firmly held. Secure in the love of Christ
He has made us rich -the inheritance (v12)
He has rescued us from darkness (v13)
He has redeemed us from our sins. (v13)
That should be enough to be going on with.
Filed under:Tags: Colossians 1:1, Joy, Trinity 5