Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Alleluia! The Lord has truly been raised! Happy Easter!
I was perusing YouTube the other day and I came across an interview with Stephen Colbert, one of my favorite comedians. Stephen is not the foolish political pundit he portrayed on his show for several years. In all the interviews I have seen I find him a deeply faith filled and intelligent man. Anyway, the interview was with Oprah and took place several years ago. In the discussion, Oprah asks Stephen about the loss of his Father and two older brothers at age 8, a moment in his life that profoundly affected him and he openly credits with making him the man he is today. He spoke so beautifully about this dark time and how his faith had kept him afloat. He goes on to mention two inter-related things. First, that God can draw out from us in the darkest moments of our lives, amazing goodness if we let him. I thought this was an exceptionally enlightened observation. Secondly, he referenced a card that a priest friend had given him that sat on his office desk that has a quote on it from theologian, Teilhard de Chardin, “Joy is the absolute perfect evidence for the presence of God.” Now these two thoughts might seem tangential, however they are anything but.
First, the way God can draw the good from those dark moments. In Holy Week we celebrate the historical fact that the ultimate good, came about from the ultimate horror. Jesus submits himself to all the evil that men can inflict on each other, and dies utterly defeated, abused and rejected, only to rise triumphantly three days later. The Son submits to the evil of men so that the Father could transform it. Just as Jesus models for us so often throughout the gospels, so he models for us the ultimate sacrifice of humility. God asks of us the same. When we submit ourselves to his loving will, as painful at times as that can be, we allow him the opportunity to draw out of us things that we could never, ever have conceived of. From loss and pain, amazing things can come, even if we cannot see them when we are in the midst of those moments. Unfortunately, we too often reject what he models for us. We seek happiness and fear any kind of suffering and pain. We have taught ourselves the myth that to be “happy” in every moment of every day, is everything. So, we reject the suffering or pain that can temper and purify us, to run to something that is fleeting and rarely ever truly fulfilling. We haven’t learned that happiness is relative and transient.
This is where the quote from de Chardin comes in. I love this quote. Teilhard de Chardin was a French Jesuit and a theologian as well as a scientist and philosopher who lived in the 20th century. He suffered greatly in his life and was misunderstood by both the Church he loved and by his colleagues in the scientific community. I think the quote from de Chardin on the card that sat on Colbert’s desk speaks volumes.
Joy. Real joy is not the same as happiness. It’s much, much, deeper and fuller. We can be in the depths of despair and still be joyful. Think of the Blessed Mother, who knew who her son was, as she held his limp body after the crucifixion, trusting God’s promise was still to be fulfilled. If you look at Mary’s face in Michelangelo’s “Pieta”, he captures it perfectly. Sublime sadness and joy. Think of Mary Magdalene as she weeps clutching Jesus’ feet in disbelief after she realized that he was raised. Grief, sadness, incomprehension…joy. We can be fearful and be joy filled as well. Think of Peter and John racing to and finding the empty tomb, or the disciples after hearing the news of his resurrection huddled behind a locked door. All of them; pain filled, remorse filled, fear filled, but all JOYOUS. Joy is not happiness. Happiness is fleeting. Joy is that emotion, like love, that is not fleeting and cannot be broken. It can coexist with all the other emotions, even anger. It comes, like love from the deepest center of our souls. It is confident, power-filled, abiding, and hope-filled. It gives strength to the weak, lifts the lowly, supports the grieving, brings peace to the sinner and dispels animosity. Joy is life giving.
I bring all of this to you this Easter Sunday because even in the midst of the losses and tragedies that we endure in life we can experience joy. Yes, there is much suffering and loss, but beyond all of what we have endured the greater mystery of Easter looms larger and more powerful. And as Stephen Colbert points to in that interview I mentioned earlier, from these moments of pain and suffering God can and will bring amazing things too and from us, if we like Jesus submit ourselves to his Holy will. In the meantime, we seek not happiness in the moment, but true joy, which reminds us that even in the time of suffering, that God is present and active, loving each one of us to new life. Our Joy – Easter Joy – is life giving!
My sincere prayer for each of you this Easter Sunday, is that wherever you may be and whatever you may be experiencing, that you may know the depth and breadth of God’s love for you in Christ Jesus. Do not despair. Do not lose hope. This moment may not be happy – happiness passes all to easily, but be joyful – joy comes from the center of your soul and is held firm in the knowledge that God is always near and his love for you is beyond all telling and will set you free.
God Bless you and all whom you love this Easter and always,
Fr. Steve
