Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP addressed the theme of the ‘Joy of the Gospel’ in two talks which, due to the pandemic, were livestreamed from Blackfriars, Oxford, on 24th October 2020. The livestream was available via Ss Peter and Paul, Ilford. Dr Sean Ryan, chair of the Catholic Biblical Association of Great Britain, introduced the event.
Fr Timothy began by speaking of the ‘flavours’ of joy in the New Testament, which he likened to a wine cellar with a rich variety of wines. Luke’s gospel is the gospel of joy. The joy of coming home finally fulfilled the longing of the prodigal son. Biblical joy is expressed with ‘music and dancing’, with feasting and with laughter. When the lost is found everything changes. Joy fills the disciples after the ascension, a joy multiplied to the ends of the earth. Pope Francis speaks of going to the peripheries, being willing to experience the pain of others. But the elder son is not ready to do this: trapped in his little world he cannot feel the suffering of his brother and therefore cannot experience joy.
Fr Timothy spoke of the theme of joy in Paul, especially in Philippians, where, in a Roman colony, the end of the emperor’s rule is celebrated. The triumph belongs to the crucified one. Paul’s joy is a quiet providential joy. He knows the quiet work of grace. For John joy lies in seeing: the joy of the friend of the bridegroom, the joy of the disciples, and the joy of those who have not seen and yet believe.