In the Gospel, Jesus set forth the need to accept the crosses of our life (Mt.16:24, Mk.8:34, Lk.9:23). And to carry them cheerfully.
Crosses are not merely big sufferings of life. Such as persecution, sickness, disease, death of a loved one, or loss of a job. There are also the daily crosses of self-discipline, hard work, obedience, setbacks, consequences for our decisions, limits to what we can do, and the cross of resisting temptation. Opposed to this teaching from the Lord is hedonism.
Most people today link hedonism with sexual immorality and debauchery, excessive eating and drinking. Hedonism is far wider phenomenon than all this. St. Paul said: We preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles(1 Cor. 1:23). To the Jews, Christ crucified was a stumbling block since they believed that anyone hung from a tree was cursed by God (see Deut 21:23). But to the Greeks and Romans, the cross was an absurdity due to the widespread philosophy of hedonism among them.
So what is hedonism?
Hedonism is a way of thinking. According to Wikipedia, hedonism is a philosophy which argues that "seeking pleasure and avoiding suffering is the only components of well-being." It is the idea that each person should do everything within one's power to achieve the greatest amount of pleasure possible, because pleasure should far surpass any amount of pain! Hedonism is a doctrine of pleasure and happiness which is opposed to spiritual life of self denial and sacrifice. It comes from the Greek word hēdonismos (ἡδονισμός), 'delight'; from hēdonē, meaning, 'pleasure' or 'sweet.'
Of course pleasure is to be desired and to some degree sought, but not at the expense of spiritual life. Hedonism seeks to avoid sacrifice and suffering at all costs. It is directly opposed to the theology of the Cross. St. Paul spoke in his day of the enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things (Php 3:18–19). As noted, he also taught that the cross was an absurdity to the Gentiles (1 Cor 1:23).
When pleasure is promoted above everything else, we indulge the flesh. When the flesh is pampered it rises to oppose the spirit.
This was the things St. Paul was talking about, in Galatians 5:16-24, when he said, "What I say is this: let the Spirit direct your lives, and you will not satisfy the desires of the human nature. For what our human nature wants is opposed to what the Spirit wants, and what the Spirit wants is opposed to what our human nature wants. These two are enemies, and this means that you cannot do what you want to do. If the Spirit leads you, then you are not subject to the Law.
"What human nature does is quite plain. It shows itself in immoral, filthy, and indecent actions; in worship of idols and witchcraft. People become enemies and they fight; they become jealous, angry, and ambitious. They separate into parties and groups; they are envious, get drunk, have orgies, and do other things like these. I warn you now as I have before: those who do these things will not possess the Kingdom of God.
"But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control. There is no law against such things as these. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have put to death their human nature with all its passions and desires."
As we can see, hedonism goes beyond eating and drinking. It is a mindset of greed! The warning of St. Paul bears repeating here, "I warn you now as I have before: those who do these things will not possess the Kingdom of God."
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Peace be with you.
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