The other day I went into the bank to cash a check. "Father, what are you planning on doing for New Year's Eve?" asked the young bank teller. "I can't wait," I answered. "Our parish is planning a big family celebration for New Year's Eve with Mass at 10:00 p.m., followed by a dinner with roasted pigs and live jazz music." The young girl seemed surprised at my enthusiastic answer and proceeded to tell me even though so many people came into the bank that day, I was the only one who had exciting plans for New Year's Eve.
My conversation with the bank teller only affirmed my personal conviction that the gift of Christian joy is the way that we can change the world. As Deacon Keith Fournier continually tells us, we are living in a new missionary age. I think that the best way that we can evangelize our sad world is through the gift of Christian joy.
Saint Thomas Aquinas listed eight Capital or Deadly Sins and maintained that sadness was the worse one of them all. The famous poet Dante, in his Divine Comedy, placed sadness at the lowest level of hell.
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