Hymn to joy

Monday, June 21, 2021

He (Jesus) was not ashamed to call them his brothers when he said: I will proclaim your name to my brothers, I will give thanks to you in the midst of the assembly. Hebrews 2:11, 12

You are all brothers. Matthew 23. 8

Hymn to Joy

The Hymn to Joy, poem by Friedrich von Schiller, is known as the finale of Beethoven's 9th Symphony. It has become the official anthem of the European Union. It celebrates the ideal of unity and human fraternity, achieved in universal joy : "Millions of beings, all be embraced in a common embrace..." The Hymn to Joy could also be entitled : The Hymn to Fraternity. Who would not wish, in fact, to see all men one day call themselves brothers and treat each other as such ?

Unfortunately, the reality is quite different. The world is agitated and incessant struggles and brotherhood disappears behind selfishness of all kinds.

However, Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth in order to draw from humanity a family for God his Father. He founded it on the basis of his death and resurrection. By faith in Jesus Christ we become children of God (John 1:12) and Jesus can call us his brothers (John 20:17). Fraternity can already be lived by realizing concretely what the family of God is, with the believers around us. Justice, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit characterize the kingdom of God our Father (Romans 14:17). To live already this kingdom, even marked by our weakness, is not this not a hymn to the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ ?

Let us not forget also that our neighbor is our brother, or a member of our family, and that as such, our love is due to him.

Source (The Good Seed)