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.