There once was a guy who has a huge Chicago Cubs fan. The
strange thing about him was that he would never watch a live game. He taped
every game. When he got home from work he would call his friend and ask, “Did
the Cubs win today?” If the answer was no he deleted the game without watching
it. If the answer was yes then he would pour himself an Old Style, plop down in
his favorite recliner, and joyfully watch the game.
No matter how far behind the Cubs got the man was happy. He
never cursed a bad play. He cheered for the opposing team when they did
something well. He enjoyed the entire game because he knew what the outcome was
before he even turned on his TV.
This is what a Christian should be like. I have read the end
of the book. Spoiler alert – God wins in the end. Jesus has defeated death. It
doesn’t matter what happens in this life because I know what awaits those who love
the Lord. I can be joyful in the face of oppression. No one needs to be thought
of as an enemy. There is no need for anxiety over anything. There is no need to
worry about this culture, our society, or the direction it looks like the
Church is going in some days. God wins in the end. This should be a source of
great comfort and joy.
When I was in navy boot camp one of the things I feared the
most was being mashed. MASH is an acronym for Make Any Sailor Hurt. If you
messed up you brought down the wrath of your company commander. He would go get
the company commanders from the other companies and they would harass you until
you broke down. They would PT (physical training) you until you either passed
out from exhaustion or puked.
I witnessed the mother of all mashing one day. I had a
friend named Kevin Wood from Texas. He messed up and our company commander
opened the entire can of mash on this poor fellow. He went and got three of his
friends and the four company commanders went non-stop all at once on poor Kevin.
What was remarkable to all of us was as the four had him run
in place holding all of his belongings in his arms, do pushups, flutter kicks,
eight count body builders, and every assortment of physical torture they could
devise Kevin was joyful. He was more than joyful. He was exuberant. He laughed
the entire time. All that did was fuel the rage even more.
When the torture session was over and the company commanders
left the company gathered around an exhausted Kevin, still with a wide smile on
his face. We asked him why he laughed and brought even more punishment upon
himself. He looked at us and said, “I knew that they would have to leave
sometime and I would still be here. In the end I win.”
Again, this is the same attitude all Christians should have.
We can be joyful in the face of opposition and persecution because we know
heaven awaits us and it doesn’t matter what they do to us here on earth. Our
time here is short compared to an eternity in heaven. Any sufferings we have in
this life should be offered up to be united with the suffering of Jesus on the
cross.
St. Paul tells us that he suffers on earth to make up for
what is lacking in the crucifixion. What could possibly be lacking in the
crucifixion of Christ? Our participation. We can suffer with Christ on the
cross by bearing our sufferings here on earth in the same manner Jesus bore
his. He prayed for those who tortured him. He asked for their forgiveness.
Do you pray for those who cause you hardship? Do you pray
for those who are protesting, looting, and rioting? Do you ask God to forgive
them for the evil things they are doing? Do you love those who scream and yell
hateful things because of the political party you support? You should. That is
what Jesus did. That is what he told us to do as well.
No matter how dark the day or the challenges you face be
joyful in all things. We know the score at the end of the game. We know who
flies the big blue W after the third out in the ninth inning.
