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The Father
Speaks
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 REJOICE,
AGAIN I SAY, REJOICE!
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By Father S. Binzler, SJ
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Console my
people, console them. Speak tenderly to the heart of
Jerusalem
and call to her”
(Isaiah 40:1-2). The words of the Prophet Isaiah struck me. God
has given this command: ‘Console my people’ to Isaiah and to all
preachers, to all shepherds, also to me. And I am asking: Which
preacher does not wish to console the people? Who does not wish to
give hope, to dry the tears from the cheeks of people who are
weeping? Who does not wish to help them to make their burden
bearable? Surely every good man wishes to console others.
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The joy the Church wishes us to accept is the joy that
comes from HOPE. And only hope can beget true joy. A Christian
hopes and therefore he is happy. In fact, hope is the sign, which
makes him different from the pagan.
St. Paul
calls the pagan simply those who do not hope (1 Thessalonians
4:13).
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What is this hope? Is it only a cheap consolation offered
to Christians to make them endure a world where their Master will
never be accepted? No, it is a great deal more than that.
Christian hope is not an escape for the Christian who cannot
compete in this bad world. Christian hope does not delude us, says
St. Paul
(Romans 5:5). Christian hope gives us deep conviction that we are
not alone, but that God is always near. Such hope begets joy, and
consolation that comes from the knowledge that there awaits us the
satisfaction of all our longings. “So we read of things no eye has
seen, no ear has heard, no human heart conceived, the welcome God
has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
Christian consolation is based on these promises. For the
Christian, the happiness to come is a reality, which determines
his whole attitude towards life. The reason why so many Catholics
are not happy is because they do not think often enough about this
truth that one day we shall be with God. They are too much
concerned with the things in the world on which they place their
chances. It is a deception, however. “We have an everlasting city,
but not here; our goal is the city that is one day to come”
(Hebrews 13:14).
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The true Christian has this knowledge always before his
mind. He no longer expects happiness merely from things that the
world can offer. He has realized that they are not everything. Not
that he has given up all hope of joy; as if he has realized in a
stoical way that our happiness lies in not having desires at all.
On the contrary, the desire of a Christian has become so
insatiable, that the world alone cannot satisfy it. The desire to
be with Christ.
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It is true that this desire grows in suffering. The grain
of hope is sown in us at Baptism. But it has to grow. It will only
grow in the painful realization that the joys of this world are
transitory. There is a painful separation from the things in the
world. “The whole of nature as we know it, groans in a common
travail all the while. And not only do we see that, but we
ourselves do the same; we ourselves, although we have already
begun to reap spiritual harvests, groan in our hearts waiting for
that adoption which is the ransoming of our bodies from their
slavery” (Romans
8:22-23). Are not the people of our time who have experienced
sufferings beyond measure prepared in a special way for hope?
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But sad to say, so many people who have suffered terribly
became cynics, ironical men. They do not live in hope. The
knowledge of the joy to come must overcome all cynicism and
depression about the future. “I do not count these present
sufferings as the measure of that glory which is to be revealed in
us” (Romans
8:18). It was
this hope that buoyed up the Saints in times of trials and it was
this hope that made possible such great tasks as the ones St.
Ignatius of Loyola and St. Francis Xavier had accomplished.
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It is this joy founded in hope that the Church always
reminds us of. It is a joy, which can never be taken from us. When
we die, “we shall see face to face; now, I have only glimpses of
knowledge; then I shall recognize God as He has recognized me” (1
Corinthians
13:12). We
shall see God as He is. Is it not worthwhile to think about that?
If we do, we must be happy men. Then shall we understand the
words, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice… The Lord
is near” (Philippians 4:4).
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- Happy
New Year to you all!
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TELL US
LIKE IT IS!
- Has
something wonderful and unique happened in your life lately? Did
God answer your prayer in a very unexpected way? Did you, like
Isaiah, meet God’s whisper?
- Have
you felt His powerful hand working in your life recently?
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Everyday, people are experiencing God’s mighty Word in their
lives and it is a pity that very few know about it. Do you have
a story to tell? Some Good News to share?
- E-mail
us (genesis@catholic.org)
or fax us (021-6627384), and tell us about it. That’s right! You
don’t have to be a great writer to do this. We can help you
write it – just tell us like it is!
- Don’t
forget to write the subject: “Let Me Tell You A Story”
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or ideas:
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Genesis
Catholic Community
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IN THIS ISSUE:
HIS Servant
by Bro. Pete Lapid
The Father Speaks
By Fr. S. Binzler, SJ
Our Faith
By Fr. KJ Veeger, MSC
Place of Refuge
By Philip Yuson
Surabaya Corner
By Ramon Martillano
Community Life
By Armand Sol
Sharing
By Princess Martillano
Straight from the Heart
By Carolle Bautista
God Answers Prayers
By Beth Manibog
On Focus
By Sansu Garin
Saint for the Month
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