The Joy of the Truth

I just listened to Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s program, “The Clown is Always Right” (an episode of Life is Worth Living). Archbishop Sheen proposes that clowns hold within their characters the ideal balance of seriousness and humor. He then describes in modern culture the division of classes, some of which take the world too seriously and have no humor and others how live only to enjoy life and take nothing seriously.

We can certainly see this trend in modern culture. Those who take the world too seriously and have no humor include the “hate crime police.” These descendants of the politically correct crowd tolerate no humor about any group of people they deem “persecuted.” I’m not promoting humor that occurs at the expense of another’s dignity. I’m talking about the kind of humor that is rooted in a people’s ability to laugh at themselves and then to allow others to join in that laughter. Such humor is rare today.

Those who refuse to take anyone seriously include the “free sex” crowd. These people want sexual pleasure without the serious task for which sex was created – the task of bearing and caring for children. They define freedom as the ability to do whatever you want (personal autonomy) as free from consequences as possible.

The Catholic life is one of balance. In this case, we are called to enjoy life – to laugh, to love, to receive the goodness of Creation. However, we are also called to take certain things very seriously – the well being of others, the consequences of our choices, our physical and spiritual health, our salvation and the salvation of others. Such a balance ensures that we receive the fullness of the goodness of life. Jesus emphasizes this balance – this paradox – in His own teachings. “Blessed are those who mourn.”

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