Quite often, Christian art portrays Jesus as a stern character never cracking a smile. As an iconographer for over twenty-five years, I have never depicted a “happy faced” Jesus. Like all Byzantine ecclesiastical artists for the past fifteen centuries, my work reflects facial neutrality according to the traditions of the Eastern Church. Does this mean that Jesus never smiled? Of course He did! Each time we say the Nicean-Constantinopolitan Creed, we re-affirm His divinity and humanity.
Though not biblically recorded, imagine Jesus, the Word-Made-Flesh being held by his Mother smiling and happy! How the people came to Him making funny faces getting Him to laugh or even tickling Him to get a quicker response. Imagine Jesus calling His disciples to follow Him with an inviting smile, handshake and embrace and how He addressed the multitudes on the mount calling those “blessed” a term of happiness who practice mercy, peace and purity of heart. Imagine the glad faces of those present at the wedding feast in Cana in Galilee when Jesus preformed His first miracle by changing water into wine! Imagine Jesus appearing to His Mother, Mary Magdalene and later to His apostles after the Resurrection and how happy they were to see Him alive again!
You and I were created in the image and likeness of God. Just like walking, breathing, thinking and loving, He gave us the ability to smile. It gives rise to optimism and imparts hope to us and for others. If somebody is experiencing a bad day, a small gesture of a smile can change their negative outlook and brighten their day. Practicing the gift of joy will make your face beam with brightness!
Smiling at others brings a sense of understanding to a situation. It means that you are willing to accept them and wish to communicate good will. Smiling is a sign of good health. It breaks up feeling of sadness and distress; never underestimate its power!
Back in 1991, I remember conducting a radio interview with Sister Mary Christelle Macaluso, also known as the “Fun Nun”. She was promoting her “Order of the Fun Nuns” (OFN) to encourage everyone to spread joy! The order had at that time 115,000 members consisting of men, women, and children of all ages, nationalities, and religions.
The Fun Nun died unexpectedly at the age of 71 in the year 2003. The biology professor was preparing for the daily liturgy at the college chapel at Saint Mary’s in Omaha, Nebraska where suffered a heart attack. Today the “Fun Nun” is in heaven smiling upon her disciples! She challenged each of my listeners and you to brighten the corner of the world in which you live. Her purpose in life was to get us to look within and lighten up. She believed that a "smile begets a smile."
Her legacy lives on through her writing and teaching tapes. Macaluso explained once that, “Physiological changes occur when we laugh. Muscles are massaged, oxygen flows readily into the lungs, stress hormones are lowered, and immune cell production is increased among other physiological changes. The Book of Proverbs, written 3,000 years ago, says, "A merry heart does like good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones" (Proverbs 17:22). Modern scientists discovered that immune cells are produced in the bone marrow and that one's mood affects their production, but this fact was already known 3,000 years ago! Recently, medical researchers at the University of Maryland found that people with heart disease laughed less than those with healthy hearts.” She concluded, “"If you have made another person on this earth smile, your life has been worthwhile."
Matthew 18:2-5 reminds us of the time when Jesus called a child to Him and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.” Jesus asks us to have hearts of children: innocent, pure and without prejudice. The smiles of children reflect their inner beauty.
As adults, we have lost that innocence. Being involved with everyday life and its cares, we forget to stop and enjoy the positive things about our lives. By concentrating and being consumed on the negative aspects of things beyond our control, we too often overlook Christ’s call to become child-like again. While children smile naturally, we need to be constantly reminded that “the mark of a happy heart is a cheerful face” (Sirach 13:26).
The Blood of Christ shed on the Cross is the incredible price paid for our happiness so that we may experience the abundant life. John 10:10 tells us that He came that we might have life and have it more abundantly! That word needs to be said again…abundantly!
The great Russian mystic, Saint Seraphim of Sarov (+1833) greeted everyone he met with “Christ is Risen!” each day of the year and not just during the Paschal season. He experienced the joy of being liberated through the Resurrection of our Lord. His example offers us a glimpse of what it means to be a joyful Christian.
There is no better way to share the joy of Christ and be a witness to His Resurrection with others than to share a smile. A smile is a sermon without the use of words. :-)
© - 2006
Raymond J. Mastroberte
1/20/06
