Religious Joy - Fr. Bryce Evans

Fr Bryce Evans, a diocesan priest aspiring to establish an Oratory of St. Philip Neri in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis investigates Newman’s sermon, “Religious Joy.” In this 1825 Christmas day sermon, Newman turns our categories upside down. Fr. Evans calls this now familiar Newman technique, “The Divine Reversal.” When we tend to think that we are going to achieve our happiness as the result of our own efforts, Newman turns the tables by emphasizing that the mystery of Christmas is not about us reaching up to God rather it is Christ coming down to us. The humility of The Son of God is our pattern of the condition to receive Him who is near us. As an example, Newman points out that the angelic message of the Incarnation is brought to poor, rough, simple-minded shepherds. If we are to receive the gift of God’s joy, we need to humbly recognize not our greatness but our littleness. The lowliness of the shepherds prepares them to be drawn up into God’s intimacy.

To help us understand joy Newman begins with fear. In the initial stage of religion, we might fear God. But as we progress in our faith fear turns to joy. The closer we are to God, the less we fear and the more joy we experience. Here lies the heart of the “Divine Reversal.” In the mystery of the Incarnation – as we embrace our God who condescends to be near, we are lifted up. The condition of receiving the joy of the Incarnation is embracing that same lowliness. Newman is calling us to renounce worldliness and serve the poor as a condition to receiving the mercy and grace of Christ. 

To approach Newman's majestic thought it is highly recommended to download the formatted sermon at www.newmanontap.com. Comments and suggestions are appreciated on the same site.