Jesus, our Only Joy be Thou

16 Responses to Jesus, our Only Joy be Thou

1. Ardis E. Parshall on April 18, 2011 at 7:45 pm

   What, Kaimi, you were thinking about becoming joyful over sunsets and puppy dogs and the end of the semester? Where are your priorities, man?

2. Brian-A on April 18, 2011 at 8:37 pm

   A little bit asceticism is to be expected in 11th century lyrics. Don’t look now, but I think the first verse is longing for sweet, sweet death.

3. E on April 18, 2011 at 9:26 pm

   Well, he is our only hope.

4. Jax on April 18, 2011 at 9:34 pm

   I suppose He is responsible for the other things that might induce joy, isn’t He?

5. Carl Youngblood on April 19, 2011 at 6:04 am

   One could say that all these things bring us joy because they in some way exemplify or typify Christlike qualities. One could also say that Christ brings us joy inasmuch he reminds us of our most sublime experiences. It’s kind of a chicken and egg problem.

6. Jared on April 19, 2011 at 9:43 am

   I think the first and great commandment answers the question.

   35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
   36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
   37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
   38 This is the first and great commandment.

   (New Testament | Matthew 22:35 – 38)

7. Jacob M on April 19, 2011 at 10:55 am

   I enjoy bacon and eggs, but only because they typify Christ.

8. jjohnsen on April 19, 2011 at 12:40 pm

   If he’s responsible for a nice curry then I’m ok with #4.

9. Johnna on April 19, 2011 at 12:47 pm

   Err indeed. but then, I love me some partial-truth hymns.

10. Bob on April 19, 2011 at 2:28 pm

    @ Carl: If it’s keeping you up at nights___the egg came millions of years before the chicken.

11. Zarahemna on April 19, 2011 at 2:51 pm

    It does take you aback at first doesn’t it.

    But when you think about it, He’s the reason for sunsets, puppy dogs and nice curry. All of which we wouldn’t have were it not for the creation.

    I think you’d be pretty hard pressed to find anything joyful without using one of your physical senses to appreciate it. I think we picked those up as a result of the plan of happiness.

    So I guess it’s not so unreasonable a thought after all.

12. Kaimi Wenger on April 19, 2011 at 8:51 pm

    Good thoughts, everyone. It seems like a lot of the responses are that Jesus is connected to other joys, or that He is responsible for them, so that if I enjoy a breakfast burrito, I’m really enjoying Jesus. I don’t know that I buy that 100%, but it’s a reasonable interpretation. Or we could say that the song is an artistic overstatement (like, “you’re the most beautiful woman in the universe”). Or maybe its author didn’t ever get to have a breakfast burrito. Poor guy.

13. James Olsen on April 20, 2011 at 10:24 am

    Not 100%. You, Kaimi, bring me joy – particularly with posts like this one. And if that’s Jesus fault, then call me Calvin.

14. document on April 20, 2011 at 12:48 pm

    “Or maybe its author didn’t ever get to have a breakfast burrito. Poor guy.”

    Quoted for emphasis

15. Robert on April 20, 2011 at 10:23 pm

    Oh, but for real!

    Seriously. 100%. Fully. NO QUESTION.

    He is our only hope, only joy, only etc.

    Of course, this is a semantics game, and you might as well substitute singular, preeminent, or unique.

    But were it not for Jesus, there would only be fall, death, and hell. That’s the essence right there everyone! It is fairly simple, isn’t it? I always believed such, even though there are lots of ways of looking at true things.

16. M on April 21, 2011 at 11:47 am

    I’m with Brian A (#2) — I think this is Bernard’s call to reject mortal joys in favor of the joys of holiness. Cistercian austerity and all.