A Path to Gospel Joy

Fr Barry with parishioners. Photo: Fr Barry Cairns 

Just last week, I was asked by one of our community in Yokohama this question:  “At the moment, I feel empty and downhearted. In the scriptures and constantly in our liturgy, I hear about the joy of faith and the joy of a follower of Jesus. What is this joy, and how can I taste it?” (“Taste” was the verb used). After a few sentences, I stumbled to answer and realised I was waffling! So, I said, “Give me a week to ponder Gospel joy, and I will try to answer you”. 

So, I assembled some theological explanations, but I realised that they did not resonate with me and would be just strange theological language to my Japanese inquirer. In my experience, Japanese people tend to prefer concrete images rather than the conceptual abstract.

So, I told my downhearted enquirer about two people in my life who lifted me up and gave me joy, peace, and encouragement. One was a Columban Priest, Father Paddy Keenan, who, after some years on mission in the Philippines, was sent to Australia with both lungs in non-working order.

I was, at the time, a seminarian in Sydney, and I was finding my studies very tough indeed. At a low point, I would go to the hospital to visit Fr Paddy. This visit had echoes of the Good Shepherd Psalm 23: “The shepherd leads me to restful waters to revive my drooping spirit.”  Despite his sickness and being confined to bed, Fr Paddy radiated peace and joy, and his joy was infectious. Fr Paddy was a friend of Christ and his instrument. 

Fr Paddy knew horses from his youth and would place a bet once a week. The whole nursing staff were with him, and they had fun. Fr Paddy was still a missionary, sharing Christ’s joy, peace, and encouragement with others and with me.

After ordination, I was posted to Japan. Again, I found studying challenging work – and Japanese language school is just that!. I helped in the Fujisawa mission of the Yokohama Diocese, where I met a brave young woman called Hanako, who came to Mass in a wheelchair. Her legs were both un-walkable and painful, yet Hanako always had a beautiful smile reflected in her eyes. Hanako somehow emanated joy. One day, I asked Hanako directly: “Hanako – why are you always so joyful?” The answer came after a long pause “I try to put aside my own cares and helplessness and give encouragement to others – especially those confined to their wheelchair or bed -  I mostly sit and listen to them. Helping such incapacitated people gives my life meaning, and joy seems to come back to me. I get my energy from Jesus, who is always at the side of my chair.”

So that is the answer I gave to my enquirer: how to taste joy. Forget oneself and give joy to others.

Fr Barry Cairns lives and works in Japan. He wrote this article while on vacation in Lower Hutt, Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Related links

• Read more from the current Columban eBulletin.