Joy in this vale of tears
We need to know the real nature and character of this virtue, now facing possible extinction amid the complicating air of modern times. It’s sadly has suffered many distortions lately such that its common understanding is now quite off the mark.
We also need to update our ability to develop and strengthen it, realistically factoring elements that now define our lives, as well as acquiring the relevant skills and art to effectively tackle our tricky times.
We cannot remain in the superficial level, restricting joy as a function only of biological, emotional, social causes, etc. Joy has deeper roots that go all the way to our Creator. We need to realize this truth more deeply, and do all, helping one another, to work out the proper mentality and culture of joy for one and all.
As such, joy has an eminently spiritual and supernatural nature. To develop it, we need faith, hope and charity, we need to pray and appreciate and live the value of sacrifice, and everything else that go with these elements.
It has to go all the way to the theological level as well as to the most cutting-edge practical skills we can get. The complexities and challenges of our times demand nothing less.
We have to wean ourselves from that childish notion that joy is just an emotional thing or some chemical or biological phenomenon that can be effected by certain drugs, potions and therapeutic exercises. Joy is neither a matter of character or temperament.
Not that these things do not contribute anything. They do, and we need to give due consideration to their objective good effects as well as to the objective needs and conditions, both good and bad, of our body in all their aspects.
But we have to understand that they are always in a secondary and instrumental role. They are useless if they are not attached to the real source of joy, and that’s nothing less than God himself.
Without God, these elements have no other way but to sooner or later succumb to our weaknesses, to the temptations around and eventually to death. With God, we can always find ways to go on and ultimately enter into eternal life.
Certainly we need to be very discerning in knowing the actual state and conditions of our life insofar as the virtue of joy as a goal is concerned. We have to be very practical on how to go about developing it, doing the usual give-and-take that is unavoidable.
But we have to learn first how to be theological in developing and living our Christian joy. Thus, we need to see the example of Christ, trying to enter into his mind and heart, such that our thoughts and even our feelings can reflect the thoughts and feelings of Christ himself.
We have to convince ourselves that it is only in him that we find true joy and peace. It’s in his heart where we can find the way and strength to grapple with any trial and difficulty, and to derive some good from evil.
As St. Paul said: “To those that love God, all things work together unto good.” (Rom 8,28) We have to be deeply convinced of the truth and wisdom of these words.
In fact, that is the proper way for us to think and feel, that is, theologically, infusing faith, hope and charity into our thinking and feeling. Our thinking and feeling cannot be pursued in a vacuum. They need the proper air which can only be God.
We should never think that we can just reason out, judge and perceive things completely on our own. That would be the path to get us disoriented. That would lead us nowhere. That would even be the way to expose us to danger.
So we need to master the teachings and ways of Christ himself, the doctrine of our faith, the ascetical means offered to us by the saints and taught now by the Church.
Inspired by these and also made to support these, let us develop those wonderful items—pills, exercises, therapies, etc.—so that our joy becomes a living thing that can be seen and can produce good effects on all.
We need to make this Christian joy known and appreciated by the people. Many appear to be wandering about in the wilderness, getting stuck in some oases and mirages of joy, but not quite the real thing.
(Fr. Cimagala is the Chaplain of Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE), Talamban, Cebu City. Email: roycimagala@gmail.com)