Discovering Joy In Adversity 逆境中發現喜樂

Gaudete Sunday, Year C
Theme: Discovering Joy In Adversity 逆境中發現喜樂

To be realistic, we aren’t living in paradise. Despite our efforts to modify it, the environment we are living in is still rather hostile. Not only is the physical ecology worsening, our interpersonal relations are getting tense and utilitarian. In short, we’re always stressed and it is never healthy both physically and spiritually. How do we sustain in such a prolonged adverse situation? We need to find something or some way which is able to cheer us up and to find joy or satisfactions in what we are able to do. Beware! Like stresses which we want to avoid, anything excessive is harmful. So are comfort and joy. When comfort and joy become addictive, they are also unhealthy for us and lead to our demise. This is the wisdom of Mencius. So, let’s face it. Pains are inevitable. To make them bearable, we need to pepper them reasonably with intermittent joy and satisfactions.

Liturgically, halfway in our Advent and Lent Seasons, the Church sets a “Gaudete Sunday” and a “Laetare Sunday” respectively to give us a break, to celebrate joyfully during these fasting and preparatory seasons. Today, let’s meditate in what we can be joyful. Are we joyful because we have a Christmas holiday? Is it because we receive candies and gifts? Certainly not! What about helping the needy? The Bible says, “It’s more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Indeed, we feel good when we are able to extend a helping hand, don’t we? This is true but don’t forget there are other areas. For example, happiness can also be a relief from pain which goes far deeper.

The first reading today tells us this deeper something. “The Lord has removed the judgment against you, He has turned away your enemies” (Zephaniah 3:15) Why is the removal of judgment joyful?
To be candid, none of us is guiltless. In order to avoid the shame and guilt caused by our faults, we tend to compete to be the first to pass judgment on others before the others pass judgment on us! Of course, avoidance and denial cannot solve any problem. That is why Jesus teaches us not to judge (Matthew 7:1) and that is also how He saved the woman caught in adultery (John 8:7). Why shouldn’t we judge? It’s because we are aware of our own faults and not passing judgment on others trains us to be more compassionate. In this way, we’ll have the courage to face our own faults and overcome them.

In most situations, our guilty feelings are augmented to a disproportional scale such that we despair. We are misguided into thinking that our faults were so grave that God would never forgive us. There’s no hope! Judas was driven to despair when he failed to “redeem” Jesus from the chief priests. He committed suicide, denying himself an opportunity to repent! Actually this is the trick of the great Liar “who accused us before our God day and night.” (Revelation 12:10b) Thus, it is consoling and relieving to obtain assurance from the prophet that God “has turned away your enemies” (Zephaniah 3:15b) and the apostle that “The accuser of our brothers is cast out” (Revelation 12:10a). God loves us so much so that He teaches us not to judge and He removes judgments against us! He shows clemency by repaying all our debts for us! Here we find joy.

The God we believe in is full of surprises! Most of the time, His behaviour is mind-boggling! We take for granted that we will find happiness and joy when we find God. This is what all religions are supposed to be! They are supposed to console us and to cheer us up. But the God we believe in is different. When we find God, we don’t find comfort and security but more persecutions (Mark 10:30)! Furthermore, Zephaniah tells us that actually God finds happiness and joy in us! He says, God “will sing joyfully because of you” (Zephaniah 3:17c). How is it possible for us to make God joyful? It’s amazing isn’t it? We are mere creatures and mortals. We don’t last long! What in us merits God’s joy? Moreover, the Bible criticizes the Jews themselves, describing them as a stiff-necked people (Exodus 32:9, Deuteronomy 9:6, Acts 7:51), failing God many times with idolatry! It’s hard to imagine how God could find joy in such people!
We are unable to fathom God’s mystery indeed. From eternity, He had elected David to be the King of Israel and made the Messiah come from him. The Bible also says, “The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). And yet, from eternity, God had known that David would commit adultery and murder! David seems to know his own short comings when he writes, “What is man that you are mindful of him, and a son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him little less than a god, crowned him with glory and honour. You have given him rule over the works of your hands, put all things at his feet.” (Psalms 8:5-7) We don’t understand why and probably we never will. However, Jesus Christ the Son of God is the proof that God finds joy in us, human beings! When we come to love, there truly is no reason at all!

Let’s return to joy which is a theme that runs through all the encyclicals and apostolic exhortations of Pope Francis. Why is joy important? Pope Francis says, “An evangelizer must never look like someone who has just come back from a funeral” (Evangelii Gaudium #10) Therefore, joy is essential for evangelization. If the gospel we believe in were not able to give us hope, to cheer us up, why should we preach? Thus, we are able to understand Paul’s exhortation, “Rejoice in the Lord always ... Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near” (Philippians 4:4-5). When we are joyful, it is easier for us to be kind. St. Paul says that our kindness will show that the Lord is near. In other words, being joyful is evangelization! Isn’t it amazingly simple? Therefore, it is important to be cheerful and joyful to radiate the power of the gospel, viz. that the Saviour is near.

In the gospel passage today, we read of the Baptist’s instructions to help people prepare their hearts to receive the Messiah. Was the Baptist joyful? I think so. It was because the Baptist was able to convert many followers and people thought that he was the Messiah they were expecting (Luke 3:15) But was the Baptist aware that he was going to die? I think so. That he was joyful to embrace his own death is shown in the fourth gospel. “The friend of the bridegroom … rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice … He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:29-30) The Baptist was joyful because he had accomplished his mission!

Brethren! In our daily life, there are in fact many sources of joy. They are waiting for us to discover. The Baptist has shown us that the Son of God is our ultimate joy which is worthy of our forsaking even our own lives in exchange. He is the Lord of Life. The parting with our lives can only be temporary. Save us Lord in adversities and grant us joy in eternity. Amen.
God bless!
2018 Reflection
Picture credit: SSPX.org