Readings: Acts 19:1-8, Ps. 68:2-7, John 16:29-33
“In the world, you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
The only thing worse than pain is feeling bad about the experience of pain. It is one thing to face tough times, but being unhappy about our situation only worsens things. In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus says, “In the world, you have tribulation, but be of good cheer.” Is it possible to face tribulation cheerfully, to suffer and smile? To understand the “how” of facing tribulation cheerfully, we must look into the “why.” Why should we suffer and smile? Jesus says, “I have overcome the world.”
We must be of good cheer because we are fighting a won battle; no matter what the world does to us, it cannot undo Christ’s victory on the Cross of Calvary. We must be cheerful because our tribulations are temporary; life happens in seasons and stages. We must be of good cheer because joy is a sign of victory; our enemies are confused when they see us happy despite their plans. We must be of good cheer because joy is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Let us now explore these points in detail:
1. It Takes Faith to Be Happy: My motto, “Be Happy, Live Positive”, was born from a realisation that God did not create us to live a miserable life. As St. Paul would say: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, Rejoice…. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4-7). By prayer and supplication, let your requests be made known to God. In another passage, St. Paul adds: “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Life’s challenges are inevitable; we cannot solve all our problems, but we can at least find peace by entrusting our difficulties to God.
2. Happiness is A Sign of Victory: Develop the courage to laugh even when the world gives you many reasons to cry. As unreasonable as it sounds, laughing releases neurotransmitters in your brain that help you calm down and activate your creative power, and you start seeing solutions to your problems. If you are stuck in a hole, you can either cry (complain, shout, make a fuss, blame everybody, insult God, regret being alive, etc.) or find even the tiniest glimmer of light and start climbing out. Paul and Silas were stuck in prison; they were facing tribulation. Their hands and feet were chained to the walls, but no one could chain their spirits. In the heart of prison, they demonstrated their strength and resilience, cheerfully sang songs of praise; behold, there was a manifestation of the Holy Spirit. Crying helps clean the eyes and provides temporary relief from pain. However, crying is the best entertainment for your enemies. Eventually, you have to dry your tears and activate your faith.
3. Tribulations Make Life Meaningful: Can you imagine how boring life would be without tribulations? During His priestly prayer, Jesus said: “I have given them thy word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not. I do not pray that thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil one.” (John 17:14-15). Jesus doesn’t want us removed from the world or our troubles taken away; He prays that we are protected from evil. Happiness comes not from the absence of tribulations but from surviving these tribulations.
4. One of the Twelve Fruits of the Holy Spirit is Joy: Sometimes, we forget that being moody and looking downcast is not among the fruits of the Holy Spirit. We often assume that someone with the Holy Spirit shouldn’t be joyful. However, we must not confuse the joy of the Holy Spirit with worldly pleasure. As Jesus says: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.” (John 14:27). The joy the Holy Spirit gives us is not in the elimination of tribulations but in the ability to remain calm regardless of whatever life throws at us. As we continue our novena to the Holy Spirit, we pray that just as He descended upon the men of Ephesus after Paul laid hands on them, He may descend upon us to revive our drooping spirits.
Let us pray: May the power of the Holy Spirit come to us, we pray, O Lord, that we may keep your will faithfully in mind and express it in a devout way of life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (Monday of the 7th week of Eastertide, Liturgical Colour: White. Bible Study: Acts 19:1-8, Ps. 68:2-7, John 16:29-33)
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu