St Paul wrote to the community in the city of Philippi at a time when he was being persecuted and in serious difficulties. Yet he advised these dear friends of his, in fact he almost commanded them, to “rejoice in the Lord always.”
Is it right to command this kind of thing? Looking at the world around us, there are not that many reasons for feeling good about life, never mind joyful!
With all the worries we have, the social injustice and strained relationships between nations, it’s already hard work to avoid being overwhelmed and discouraged, and therefore just living for ourselves.
Nonetheless, we hear Paul’s invitation to:
Rejoice in the Lord always.
What was his secret? Chiara Lubich wrote “There is a reason why, despite all our difficulties, we should always be joyful. If we take Christian life seriously, it gives us joy. Through Christian life, Jesus is alive in us and when we are with him we cannot fail to be joyful. He is the source of true joy, because he gives meaning to our life and guides us with his light. He frees us from fear, whether we are concerned about the past or about something yet to come. He gives us the strength to overcome all the difficulties, temptations and trials that we might encounter.“
Christian joy is not simple optimism, nor is it the security given by material wellbeing. It isn’t the cheeriness of those who are young and healthy. Instead it is the fruit of a personal meeting with God in the depths of our hearts.
Rejoice in the Lord always.
Paul went on to say that this joy enables us to welcome others in a kindly way and be ready to use our time for others.[1]
Moreover, on another occasion, Paul referred explicitly to Jesus’ saying, “There is more joy in giving than in receiving.”[2]
Being in Jesus’ company gives us an interior peace that has a “disarming” power and can often have a positive impact on the people around us.
Not long ago, despite the dangers and challenges of the war, a large group of Syrian young people met together to share their experiences of living the Gospel and experiencing the joy of mutual love. They went home again determined to witness that it is possible to live as one family.
We were sent this feedback by one of the people there:
“We heard so many stories about great suffering and pain but also about great hope and heroic faith in God’s love. Some people have lost everything and their families are living in a refugee camp. Others saw their loved ones killed. These young people really want to help make a new start. They have organised festivals in different towns, involving thousands of people. They worked to rebuild a school and a garden at the centre of a small village where construction had never been finished due to the war. They have helped many refugee families. The words of Chiara Lubich come to mind, ‘Christian joy is like a ray of sunlight shining through a tear, a rose flowering from blood-stained ground. It is the essence of love distilled from suffering. That is why it has the apostolic power of a glimpse of Paradise.’ In these Syrian brothers and sisters of ours, we saw the fortitude of the first Christians in the way they witness, during this terrible war, to their trust and hope in God who is Love. Their witness helps their friends have the same trust and hope. Thank you, Syrian friends, for this lesson in lived Christianity!”
Letizia Magri
[1]Cf. Phil.4:5.
[2]Acts 20:35.
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