Joy
As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
John 15:9-11
STORY
Bobby McFerrin is best known to us for his iconic 1988 feel-good hit song Don’t Worry, Be Happy. Since then, he has received ten Grammy Awards. McFerrin’s love of music came from his childhood. Whenever he was sick his mother would give him two things, medicine for his illness and “she’d give me music for my spirit.” He went on to say, “Music does have incredible power to rearrange your insides, rearrange your thoughts, heal your body.”
McFerrin later released in 2013 his album titled spirityouall. This reads as “spirit you all,” which is Mcferrin’s personal testament of faith. The album includes his adaptations of traditional African-American spirituals and devotional songs that he composed. McFerrin believes that music has a transcendent spiritual power saying, “It elicits so many emotions. Music has a way of communicating … that language does not. It can go past language.”
The song Don’t Worry, Be Happy begins with these words:
Here’s a little song I wrote you might want to sing it note for note
Don’t worry be happy
In every life we have some trouble but when you worry you make it double
Don’t worry be happy
Don’t worry be happy now
DEVOTION
Jesus was having his last meal with his disciples in the Upper Room. He had just washed their feet as a demonstration of his love for each of them, and now he is fellowshipping with them with by breaking bread together. The talk becomes solemn when he shares that one of the twelve will betray him into the hands of the authorities. Without stating a disciple’s name, he dips a morsel of bread into the cup of Judas and simply says to the group’s treasurer, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” Judas departs from the group of his friends whom he has travelled with for three years.
Jesus then begins to share the meaning of being in Christian relationships, with a casual conversation with the remaining eleven. This has often been referred to as the “Farewell Address” or more simply “The Last Talk.” Part of that discussion is that it is a joy to be in relationship with Jesus and with one another. This Jesus articulated this when he said, “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
This is not a passive joy; it is a joy that only comes when we remain in a spiritual relationship with Jesus. It requires the obedience of keeping the commandments that he taught over the years. And as Jesus is about to be arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane and the next day be crucified, it is also a joy that we can continue to experience during the trials and tribulations of life.
Cyril of Alexandria (c. 378 – 444 C.E.) was the Christian patriarch of Alexandria when the city was at its height in influence and power within the Roman Empire. He distinguished himself by using his position to champion the orthodox faith against Jews and heretics. Cyril was a scholarly archbishop and a prolific writer. He wrote several exegeses, among those were: Commentaries on the Old Testament, Thesaurus, Discourse Against Arians, Commentary on St. John’s Gospel, and Dialogues on the Trinity. His writings and his theology have remained an important part of the church theology to this day. The Roman Catholic Church recognizes Cyril of Alexandria as a Doctor of the Universal Church. Doctor means “teacher,” and only 37 men hold that title. In his commentary on John 14:11 Cyril wrote: “Here it is as though when Jesus says, “All this I have spoken to you that my joy may be in you,” he’s saying that those things which encourage me may give you encouragement as well. You can face danger bravely, fortifying yourselves with the hope…”
There is a wonderful joy in knowing that “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.” It is a joy that comes from knowing that the spirit of Jesus dwells within me. It is the joy that my life has meaning and purpose. It is the joy of being a part of Christian fellowship. It is a joy, that as we encounter the hardships of life, that that those things which encouraged Jesus will encourage us as well.
Meredith Vieira is a recognizable name as a former reporter for 60 Minutes, a talk show host for The View, and the host of the game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. She can currently be seen as a reporter for Dateline and the host of the game show 25 Words or Less. What became headline news in 2011 is when she chose to no longer be a host on NBC Today program. The decision was a decision of love.
Meredith married CBS journalist Richard Cohen on June 14, 1986. On their second date he told her that he had suffered from multiple sclerosis since he was 25 years old. Meredith would not allow this to be an obstacle to their relationship. As his illness progressed, she gave up her 10 million salary so her 2:30 wake time would not disturb him, and she would be in the home during the important early morning hours when she was most needed as a caregiver. Regarding her decision Meredith said, “So why not enjoy life now? It’s very precious, and anyone living with any kind of illness knows that. Health is fleeting, and you need to celebrate it while you still have it.”
We can enjoy life now knowing as Jesus shared with us, “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”