Is it OK to be truly happy living in a world where more than 9,500 innocent children starve to death each and every day?

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Robert_Sock said:
Matthew 16:24
Then Jesus said to his disciples: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

This sounds obligatory to me (if one is to follow Christ).
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indeed is obligatory, but the pains and sorrows come with our cross, we dont need to look for anymore, maybe when offering a sacrifice or something, but those are usually chosen and not obligued.
 
Robert_Sock said:
Who’s talking perpetual sadness? The cross is the epitome of pain and sadness.
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Don’t you have any commentaries on how others have understood scripture?

Taking up your cross means that God, not you, is the author of your life.

Which means that you can take your hardships as opportunities to embrace His will (Luke 22:42). It is about our attitude to life. Of trying to see God as our healer rather than our destroyer. Of helping each other, not to be desolate but to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and start all over again. You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy. - Psalm 30

Sing it out people:

*Where there once was only hurt He gave His healing hand
Where there once was only pain He brought comfort like a friend
I feel the sweetness of His love piercing my darkness
I see the bright and morning sun
As it ushers in His joyful gladness

Mourning Into Dancing - Willow Creek Community Church - youtube.com/watch?v=enccXXNK0Hs*
 
inocente said:
Don’t you have any commentaries on how others have understood scripture?

Taking up your cross means that God, not you, is the author of your life.

Which means that you can take your hardships as opportunities to embrace His will (Luke 22:42). It is about our attitude to life. Of trying to see God as our healer rather than our destroyer. Of helping each other, not to be desolate but to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and start all over again. You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy. - Psalm 30

Sing it out people:

*Where there once was only hurt He gave His healing hand
Where there once was only pain He brought comfort like a friend
I feel the sweetness of His love piercing my darkness
I see the bright and morning sun
As it ushers in His joyful gladness

Mourning Into Dancing - Willow Creek Community Church - youtube.com/watch?v=enccXXNK0Hs*
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The cross is the epitome of earthly sorrow, and we are commanded to carry our cross. On the positive note, our sufferings can be turned to joy by contemplating our salvation from sin and Everlasting life. Many of the great saints endured the sufferings of the cross, through their own volition, throughout their life.
 
Robert_Sock said:
The cross is the epitome of earthly sorrow, and we are commanded to carry our cross. On the positive note, our sufferings can be turned to joy by contemplating our salvation from sin and Everlasting life. Many of the great saints endured the sufferings of the cross, through their own volition, throughout their life.
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Pope Francis urges Christians to have joy over Cross

“Do not be men and women of sadness: a Christian can never be sad! Never give way to discouragement!”
 
inocente said:
Pope Francis urges Christians to have joy over Cross

“Do not be men and women of sadness: a Christian can never be sad! Never give way to discouragement!”
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I suppose because the Cross represents Jesus’ taking upon Himself the sins of humanity and relieving us of them so that we may have eternal life. Or not all sins, only the sin of Adam and Eve? And is there a different significance of the Cross to some Protestants as compared to Catholics and Orthodox?
 
meltzerboy said:
I suppose because the Cross represents Jesus’ taking upon Himself the sins of humanity and relieving us of them so that we may have eternal life. Or not all sins, only the sin of Adam and Eve? And is there a different significance of the Cross to some Protestants as compared to Catholics and Orthodox?
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A good Baptist preacher would maybe be humanist, ground it in G-d’s kingdom here on Earth, in the here and now.

First the preacher makes the mood sombre, takes his audience down a peg, a bit of introspection and navel gazing for the good of their souls:

*“Wars, violence, economic conflicts that hit the weakest, greed for money, power, corruption, divisions, crimes against human life and against creation! And our personal sins: our failures in love and respect towards God, towards our neighbor and towards the whole of creation.

"Do we feel weak, inadequate, powerless?”*

Then, having got the crowd where he wants them, the Baptist preacher whips them into a frenzy, makes their little faces beam, sends them home full of beans:

*“God is not looking for powerful means: it is through the Cross that he has conquered evil! We must not believe the Evil One when he tells us: you can do nothing to counter violence, corruption, injustice, your sins!

“We must never grow accustomed to evil!

“With Christ, we can transform ourselves and the world. We must bear the victory of Christ’s Cross to everyone everywhere, we must bear this great love of God."*

Yea! go the crowd. Hallelujah! Glory be!

But that was the Pope preaching. When did the Pope become a Baptist preacher? 😃
 
Robert_Sock said:
Who’s talking perpetual sadness? The cross is the epitome of pain and sadness.
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You are.

I offer this reflection for today’s readings as a counter to your OP.
Presenation Ministries:
The book of Daniel was probably written around the time of the Seleucid Empire’s persecution of the Jewish people. Although this was such a severe and brutal persecution (see 1 Mc 1:60-63), the author of Daniel could still poke fun at those persecuting him and his people. He pictured the persecutors as half-cocked and all shook up when they saw a disembodied hand and wrist writing on the wall. The author seems to enjoy describing the king of the persecutors thus: “When the king saw the wrist and hand that wrote, his face blanched; his thoughts terrified him, his hip joints shook, and his knees knocked” (Dn 5:5-6). In the midst of some serious teaching about persecution, punishment, justice, and God’s sovereignty, the author of Daniel still liked to crack a few jokes.

We too can smile even when we are manhandled and persecuted (see Lk 21:12). We can be light-hearted even when betrayed by our own family (see Lk 21:16) or when facing execution. The Lord will give us a special grace not only to speak up for Him at our trial (see Lk 21:15), but also to trust Him completely and know that He will either rescue us or give us a glorious death. Therefore, “when these things begin to happen, stand up straight and raise your heads, for your ransom is near at hand” (Lk 21:28). Anybody can crack jokes at a party, but only a child of God can do it at a martyrdom. Smile, laugh, suffer, die, live for Jesus, and love Him with all your heart.
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Traditionally there have been very few Catholics in the neighbourhood where I grew up and currently live. Years ago at one point the church was handed over to, I believe, the White Fathers to meet the needs of African immigrants in our greater metropolitan area. Many of the people who attended mass were from war-ravaged countries. Some I knew had experienced too much and were broken from their experiences.

It was at that time that my older son was being confirmed.
The Bishop came in for the occasion from Sudan, where Catholics were being persecuted. He related how his plane was fired upon as it took off at the airport.
This is the context in which we all came together to celebrate the mass, African style.
The entrance procession came in with much music, drums and dancing. The joy in the air was palatable. From there, it only got better.
The Bishop’s homily spoke of suffering, but inspired courage, strength and peace: gifts to be found in trusting in the Lord.
It was one of the most memorable services I have attended.

Why am I saying this?
We have a duty to pass on the good news.
I am no judge, but it may be a sin to be morose.
Seriously, if sadness does not lead one to action to aid another or oneself, if it does not lead one to God in the attempt to overcome it, something has gone wrong spiritually or psychologically.
 
Robert_Sock said:
The Pope is not addressing sadness over the starvation of innocent children! Pope Francis is deeply saddened over the plight of those living in extreme poverty.
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You are switching horses. Your said “The cross is the epitome of earthly sorrow” and I posted an article showing the Pope disagrees with you. You’ll have to argue that one with him.
 
inocente said:
You are switching horses. Your said “The cross is the epitome of earthly sorrow” and I posted an article showing the Pope disagrees with you. You’ll have to argue that one with him.
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Again, I’m saying that the cross can be a source of great joy too, but that that joy is targeted to Everlasting salvation, and not earthly happiness.
 
Robert_Sock said:
Again, I’m saying that the cross can be a source of great joy too, but that that joy is targeted to Everlasting salvation, and not earthly happiness.
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The Pope disagrees:
*“But,” he responded, “God is not looking for powerful means: it is through the Cross that he has conquered evil! We must not believe the Evil One when he tells us: you can do nothing to counter violence, corruption, injustice, your sins!”

“We must never grow accustomed to evil!” he insisted.

“With Christ,” he declared, “we can transform ourselves and the world. We must bear the victory of Christ’s Cross to everyone everywhere, we must bear this great love of God.”*

“With Christ, we can transform ourselves and the world”, not “With Christ, we can have joy in our own salvation”.
 
inocente said:
The Pope disagrees:
*“But,” he responded, “God is not looking for powerful means: it is through the Cross that he has conquered evil! We must not believe the Evil One when he tells us: you can do nothing to counter violence, corruption, injustice, your sins!”

“We must never grow accustomed to evil!” he insisted.

“With Christ,” he declared, “we can transform ourselves and the world. We must bear the victory of Christ’s Cross to everyone everywhere, we must bear this great love of God.”*

“With Christ, we can transform ourselves and the world”, not “With Christ, we can have joy in our own salvation”.
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“With Christ, we can transform ourselves and the world” 👍 👍 I fully agree with Pope Francis, but I still contend that what I say is also correct.

The starvation still persists!
 
you know, yesterday i was talking to my mother about body weight, she got a chart.
then she noticed the overweight part, and she told me that she tought that being overweight and being obese were the same thing. that explained to both of us why she said about some people that they were not overweight.

i somewhat think you have the same problem, and are confusing sadness and happyness with something else.

the Pope is seen smiling and very happy. yet he cares for the poor, poor in money or poor in faith. living happy and caring for others is posible.

of course our goal is to be saved, but while we are on the way, why not share a few laughs and happy times?
 
meltzerboy said:
Robert, you call the world “miserable and corrupt.” I would say the world CONTAINS elements of misery and corruption which we all must fight against in our own way. But not to express any joy and love for the goodness found in earthly life is to deny our birthright which G-d bestowed upon us. IOW, it is to reject G-d’s gift of life itself, life here on earth. We are not meant to suffer and we are put here for a dual purpose: to cultivate and rejoice in our G-d-given talents and to help others who are not given the opportunity to cultivate and rejoice in theirs because of their suffering. By doing this, we show our love and reverence for both G-d and His creation.
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Did the Jews experience joy at the destruction of Jews during the Holocaust? Of course not! The Jews felt great sadness the same way people ought to experience it when it comes to the starvation of innocent children. Both are crimes against humanity.

Even today Jewish people look back to the holocaust with mourning and great sadness, but the starvation of innocent children is hardly given any thought.
 
Robert_Sock said:
Did the Jews experience joy at the destruction of Jews during the Holocaust? Of course not! The Jews felt great sadness the same way people ought to experience it when it comes to the starvation of innocent children. Both are crimes against humanity.

Even today Jewish people look back to the holocaust with mourning and great sadness, but the starvation of innocent children is hardly given any thought.
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Actions speak louder than words! We cannot help all starving children but we can help some - and that is more important than bewailing the fact, although frequent reminders of their plight are also needed in our busy world.
 
tonyrey said:
Actions speak louder than words! We cannot help all starving children but we can help some - and that is more important than bewailing the fact, although frequent reminders of their plight are also needed in our busy world.
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And why can’t societies end starvation and extreme poverty? There certainly is enough food to go around.
 
Robert_Sock said:
And why can’t societies end starvation and extreme poverty? There certainly is enough food to go around.
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What’s in it for us? The alleviation of guilt? It is a very, very sad situation. Physical poverty and poverty of the soul. We pray for more love.
 
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