Have you ever noticed how some people seem to be happiest when contemplating the unhappiness of other people? And, no I am not talking about journalists! Although, I will admit to being creeped out sometimes when watching a tragic news story, then watching the sunny smile on the TV anchor’s face the moment s/he switches to a human interest story. It reminds me of those old Greek masks used to depict comedy and tragedy, or like a form of Kabuki theater.
But, I digress. It is amazing to me how often people rejoice in the unhappiness of others. Often we self-justify it as a form of rejoicing that justice was done. No, I am not talking about someone being sentenced to jail or to a large fine, etc. Rather, I am speaking of the quiet giggle that we get when a disliked (or even hated) rival has something tragic happen to them. It is as though the something bad was a deserved punishment from God.
The problem is that when we do this, we demonstrate that we have yet to learn the love of God, who wishes that no one should perish. In fact, Saint Paul gives the Corinthians—and us—quite a corrective when it comes to this issue of rejoicing in the troubles of others. He says:
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. …
Let that be our small thought for today.
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