THE QUIET HOUR

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 11, 8 March 1930, Page 2

THE QUIET HOUR

(By REV. G. T. REALE.)

SUNDAY READING, TIKE SEASON OF I/E>T.

Tr a rea] Christian a joyful person or a sorrowful one? Christians have often been accused of being so joyful that they forget the sorrow of the world, or so gloomy that they forget the sunshine and liappi- . ness of human life. But the truth is, that the real •Christian is a paradox; he is joyful perJßOn always and he is a sorrowful person always, as long as the conditions of this world last. Those who never sorrow are not real Christians, nor are they who never rejoice, for life contains both good and evil, and good produces joy, and 'evil sorrow, always.

Yet although in this world there is a strain of sorrow in all joy and a Istrain of hope amid all sorrow, it is impossible for us to he thoroughly joyful and sorrowful at the same time. It would he altogether incongruous to have a wedding and a funeral taking place in the same church at the sam e time. A few philosophers might be able to blend their feelings into a rightful harmony, hut ordinary people would say that they preferred to have some interval of recovery: "We cannot attend a wedding and a funeral on the same day." Let one or other he postponed."

The Christian Brotherhood—the Clmrcfli—takes the same line ns the ordinary man.. Certain seasons are put aside iVir pure , jjoy; we do well to brush away : all sorrowing? fe? u n?rs at times like Christmas and Easter.

Then we should "let ourselves go" 'and rejoice whole haertedly in the goodness of God and the mercies of Jesus. God has delivered the world: mankind has new hopes and pledges of help and salvation: it is wrong to sorrow at the seajsonswhen these great facts are celebrated; let us lift up our hearts 1 and rejoice, for God loves us to be 'happy in His goodness, and to he | grateful 'for the mighty works of ! jjie dear Son.' But there are other seasons, which the Church puts afcide for other purposes than rejoicing. Advent for watchfulness; Embontido for prayers tor the clergy; Lent for (Borrow over sin and for "learning repentance. In Lent the Church deliberately turns our eyes away from Christmas Joy and Easter bono, and says to us: "Concentrate for a time on the sorrowful side of life: open your eyes to the pride, the rebellion, the carletesness of the world: remember your owns part therein, and learn to repent both for yourself and for the Church, and for the world of which you are part." When we face facts and resolve to share Christ's self sacrifice for the good of others: when we own our sins and the sinfulness of the world; when we resolve by Christ'js aid to do better, v Ave shall have entered a Lent which —perhaps for the first time in our life—is real.