Saint Ephraem, the Sourpuss

At my parish today we celebrated a Saint Augustine and his 100 or so Chinese martyrs--maybe this guy and friends took the place of Saint Ephraem? But, we don't know much about a lot of these early Christians but how do we know this guy or Saint Jerome were 'sourpusses?'

I do like how in this case the pastor sequed from Saint Ephraem to being happier. Last night as I was flipping channels and I paused to hear Joel Osteen, he spoke about that same thing. He says we must smile more. He says even if we have to train ourselves to smile more.

Anyway, I thought this passage was interesting on a couple of different levels:

http://www.seaseton.org/July%208%20bulletin.pdf

July 9 Feast of Saint Ephraem, the Sourpuss

In 363 the Iranians, called Persians in those days, invaded Iraq, called Mesopotamia at the time. In the wake of this war, Ephraem, a Christian deacon, fled to live the rest of his life in a cave. He was given the title “Harp of the Holy Spirit” because he composed numerous hymns. Yet Ephraem, the ancient scrolls state, never laughed or smiled. Our Father, who are in heaven, deliver us from temptation and from saints who never smile or laugh – even as they compose music! This feast of Serious Ephraem is a good day to petition Rome to canonize funny saints, those holy women and men who by their good humor make us, and God smile. #1048577;#1048578;

Studies show the muscles in the face are capable of over 250,000 different combinations of expressions! We also know that it takes many more facial muscles to frown than to smile. Today, give your facial muscles a rest and smile more. Each day we have a basic choice: to be a sourpuss or a sweetand-smiling-puss (puss is American slang for mouth or face, from the Irish pus for mouth or lip). Ralph Waldo Emerson said that our face reveals what the spirit is doing. It does not lie but makes a faithful confession. Poor Ephraem, while a holy man, must have a sour soul. It’s strange that religion seems to require a sober if not sour appearance lest the world think we are having too good a time enjoying life here on earth. Laughter is rare in holy places and often among so called holy people.

Religion is not the only one guilty of causing a sour face. In daily life, where hardships seem to abound, wearing a smile and being happy is usually considered a sign that you don’t comprehend the problems facing the world and, therefore, must be simpleminded. If you monitor gatherings of friends and family, notice how often conversations center on the negative subjects: how bad is life, young people, the
world, their work, their…, the litany of woes goes on and on. Beware if you lack any problems that make you grim faced, for others will start giving you some of theirs to carry. The issue isn’t problems – everyone has problems. Rather, it is how you respond to them. For the soul, problems are the stuff of holiness, the raw material for working with God to transform our various situations into opportunities for greatness.

As you go about your activities today, remember that your face is the window of your soul. Don’t pull down a window shade, wearing a half-face to cover what’s in your soul. Rather, by spiritual exercise make your soul full of God – and so, your face full of joy.
The Old Hermit’s Almanac ©1997, Edward Hayes Forest of Peace Publishing, Ave Maria Press.

"If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the gospel you believe but yourself."
~ St. Augustine
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