‘Your Sorrow Will Be Turned Into Joy’

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

WHAT reassuring words Christ was addressing to his disciples, and now to us! While it is a given that we will have all kinds of sorrows in this life, we should avoid falling into a state of sadness that can only mean that we are not with Christ, that we do not believe him.

But if by our faith we stick to this promise of Christ, we know that our sorrows indeed will become joy that will also give us peace, a peace that is not of the worldly kind, but one that comes from Christ himself.

We need to know the real nature and character of this virtue of joy, now facing possible extinction amid the complicating air of modern times. It 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 just 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 only play 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.

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com