Jubilate: Make a joyful noise

The news of the resurrection turned the disciples’ sorrow into joy, just as Jesus had said. The world rejoiced to be rid of Jesus, whom they hated, at last, while the disciples were in utter despair; but just as he said, it was just for a little while; and then he appeared to the Emmaus disciples who rejoiced on Easter. But he vanished, until he appeared again in the upper room, and they were glad. And he vanished again. Each Easter appearance was not permanent, for he vanished after each, until the day of his ascension. And then, after another ‘little while’, came Pentecost, when now he would ‘appear’ again, this time through the ministry of the Apostles. And thus it has been every Sunday since then, every ‘little while’, he appears when we hear his preachers proclaim him and when we receive his very Body and Blood in the supper. And this, then, is the true source of joy—as joy is the meaning of Jubilate—the awareness that Jesus is risen from the dead; thus let us turn from the errors of despair and despondency by regular weekly worship when we ‘see’ him again in preaching and the Supper. Audio: Sermon for Jubilate.
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