In wrapping up this year’s study of the Spiritual Disciplines, the last one focused on the corporate discipline of Celebration. It’s a good reminder to pause and celebrate—especially as we close out another year.
2023 was full of significant changes and new experiences for me personally and professionally, and we had a lot of family fun along the way!
Stay tuned to the end of this post, where participating family members reflect on their Word for 2023 and how it impacted their journey this year.
Celebration is at the heart of the way of Christ. In this advent season, we consider how Jesus entered the world on a high note of jubilation. The angel cried out, “I bring you good news of a great joy, which shall come to all the people” (Luke 2:10).
A season of Celebration started with the birth of Jesus Christ, then there was a quiet season, as He grew and matured. More than 30 years after his birth, Jesus initiated His public ministry. André Trocmé in Jésus-Christ et la révolution non-violente and later John Howard Yoder in The Politics of Jesus go to some length to demonstrate that Jesus began His public ministry by proclaiming the year of Jubilee (Luke 4:18, 19).
In the Old Testament all the social stipulations of the year of Jubilee—canceling all debts, releasing slaves, planting no crops, returning property to the original owner—were a celebration of the gracious provision of God.
Celebration brings joy into life, and joy makes us strong. Scripture tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). That’s an important verse to our family, as it’s reflected in our Family Mission Statement.
Click here for more from Richard Foster on the Discipline of Celebration
