MEDITATION TIPS — Solemnity of Pentecost,
June 8, 2025

“Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them” (Acts 2:3)

　The Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples who were praying, and they were filled with the Spirit and began to speak in the languages of other nations. Even though there were pilgrims from many different countries, people were amazed and said, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?” (Acts 2:7). One of the great works of the Holy Spirit is to bring us into unity, transcending the differences in our languages.

　Language is a privilege granted only to human beings. Along with language, laughter is also a uniquely human privilege. And laughter, too, can transcend differences in language. Humor is essential to life, and many saints never forgot to smile or have a sense of humor. In fact, humor is an important “virtue.” “There is no day more wasted than the one in which we have not laughed,” said Chamfort. The philosopher Alain wrote in The Philosophy of Happiness, “We do not laugh because we are happy; we are happy because we laugh.” This has even been scientifically proven. Similarly, we do not cry because we are sad, but rather, we become sad because we cry. By taking certain actions, we can suggest things to ourselves and resolve emotional issues. When faced with something painful or sad, try to laugh even if it feels forced. In doing so, the pain and sadness tend to flee. There is a Korean proverb that says: “You cannot hit a smiling face.” No matter how angry you are, it’s hard to raise a fist to someone who approaches you with a cheerful smile. This implies that if you live with a constant smile, misfortune will stay away. “Laughter is the ultimate tonic and a charm for good fortune.” (Nakamura Tempū)

　However, some may feel that laughter is impossible when they are truly stuck in life. A certain saint once advised, “When you’re stuck, first eat well, sleep well, and then go on a journey. After that, pray.” This is truly a sound spirituality. When you feel stuck, it’s not particularly helpful to just blindly pray. Without eating well, sleeping well, and maintaining physical and mental health, you can’t make appropriate judgments. Going on a journey is also very important. Travel is a continuous series of new insights. Through travel, you discover a new side of yourself that you didn’t know before. “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” (Marcel Proust)

　It is human nature that when your heart is burdened, you can’t genuinely laugh. That’s why, after eating well, sleeping well, and taking a journey, your heart becomes more relaxed, and you begin to see how and what to pray for. In such a healthy state, humor also returns. And then, you will realize that the things you were worrying about were not such a big deal after all. I believe it would be wonderful to face the end of life with humor. One diocesan priest, just a few days before dying of cancer, answered a phone call from a friend and said with a laugh, “I’m on my deathbed now!” Humor, too, is a work of the Holy Spirit.

 　　　　　(Contributed by Father Yutaka Akabae)