Second Thursday of Advent
Scripture Reading for Today:
Participatory Joy
by Tabitha Mui
“YHWH, do something!” Habakkuk does not mince his words when he presents his complaints before God. As he watches Judah implode from injustice and immorality, he cries out to God with urgency and desperation. God, however, responds to Habakkuk with a bone-crushing answer: “For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwellings not their own.” [Hab. 1:5b-6 NIV] Habakkuk, like any sane person, does a double-take: “Wait. You, who cannot tolerate wrongdoing, are going to send the Babylonians to punish us? They are going to eat us alive! Are You not the Holy One, the one from everlasting? What do you have to say for yourself?” [a paraphrase from selected verses from Hab. 1:12-2:1]
This is the predicament that Habakkuk finds himself in, as he wonders what the fate of Judah will be. The days will be grim, and they will return to being captives of a foreign power – possibly the worst nightmare for their ancestors who were delivered from Egypt. For Habakkuk and the people of Judah who are faithful to YHWH, there is not a whole lot of joy in their current situation, and it looks like there will be even less in their near future.
Is it possible to even have joy in the midst of change and disruption?
I remember as a child how excited I was for Christmas Day because the wait would be over – I was finally allowed to open my presents. There was joy (albeit rather briefly), but the anticipation for that joy was rather forgettable. I cannot tell you much about the days leading up to it aside from the agony of waiting for Christmas Day.
I can, however, tell you about my Advent season in my final year of high school. The church that I attended wanted to run a large-scale two-day Christmas musical for the community. They asked all the kids and youth in the church to audition in mid-November, and I proudly landed the role of King Herod. For the next four weeks leading up to opening night, my family grew tired of me practicing my exaggerated monologue and my dance routines to catchy children’s songs. Every Sunday afternoon, we would pile into the sanctuary to practice the music and the scenes and try on our costumes. As one of the oldest kids in the entire production, I had the joy of participating alongside so many young enthusiasts and talented parents. I still remember the roaring laughter from the audience when my exaggerated acting made the crown fall off my wig on opening night.
Some would say that the latter experience is like Christmas coming early, but in reality, it didn’t. Christmas was still on December 25. The difference, however, was that I turned my anticipation into participation. Instead of waiting around for Christmas to happen, I participated in a communal event that actively celebrated the reality of the future in the present. Sometimes we may see anticipation as a passive state, but it isn’t. True anticipation requires us to participate in the here and now. To be a part of what is going on in the moment, while looking forward into the future.
It is why YHWH told Habakkuk in 2:2-5 to write down the revelation that He was about to make: “Here’s what is going to happen. It will happen and it won’t be late.” It is important for the faithful remnant to know that they will return to the Promised Land and to not lose sight of that promise. But in the meantime, YHWH tells those who are in exile to “build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce; marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease.” [Jer. 29:5-6 NIV] YHWH’s explicit instructions were not to passively sit around and wait until He delivered them from their captivity, but to pray for the well-being of the city that they were being exiled to and to continue to do life together. When they turned their anticipation to participation, they could find joy in their everyday circumstances: the birth of a new child, the harvest from their labour, a roof over their heads, and the celebration of marriage.
It is also why Paul could write with so much joy in his letter to the Philippians. These were individuals who partnered with him in proclaiming the good news, who sent their brother Epaphroditus to care for his needs, and who gave generously to him in support of his ministry. Although he would rather depart and be with Christ given his circumstances, he knows he must continue on. More importantly, he does so with joy, knowing that his participation, along with the collective participation of the Philippians in the present, brings them closer to the anticipated future: meeting Jesus face-to-face.
So, back to the question: is it possible to experience joy in the midst of change and disruption?
YES! The joy that we experience in seasons of change and disruption is found when we continue to do what we have always done: greet our neighbours, take our kids to the park, cook a hearty meal, read a good book, grow a new plant, etc. When we begin to see joy as participatory rather than anticipatory, we no longer see joy as an experience that comes as a result of a desired outcome. Instead, joy is experienced as we grow in awe and gratitude through our participation in the kingdom of God; we become more aware of how imminent the Coming King is in the present. Perhaps this is why Habakkuk could pray these final words:
“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour.” [Hab. 3:17-18 NIV]
Thank you for reading the New Leaf Advent Reader, a collection of reflections from writers across Canada. If you are enjoying the reader, sign up to receive the readings in your inbox each day here: SIGN UP
And please share this reflection with your friends and family who might also enjoy it.
One of the ways we have been connecting online since the pandemic pushed us online is through our Learning Centre, a weekly interactive Zoom call on a topic with a Canadian voice of wisdom. For the season of Advent, we will be featuring a few of our writers and making space to reflect together on the Advent Reader articles. Join us for the interactive sessions on Thursdays at 1:30 pm (Eastern time) or sign up and view the recordings of the sessions afterwards. SIGN UP for the Learning Centre Advent sessions.