A person full of smiles is always beautiful, friendly, and touching. As Solomon in the Old Testament says, "A cheerful heart is good medicine" (Proverbs 17:22), and, "A glad heart means a happy face; where the heart is sad the spirit is broken" (Proverbs 15:13), a person full of smiles expresses delight, sociability, happiness, friendliness and joy. I think smiling is the best means of communication and the greatest happiness in our life without paying any cost.
It is said that a Korean adult laughs about seven to eight times a day, while people in other countries laugh about 15 times a day in general. And babies laugh over 300 to 500 times a day.
There are 43 facial muscles in the face, and among them, 17 muscles move to laugh. Almost as a panacea or the best medicine, laughing brings about various good hormones like dopamine and endorphins. Laughing also releases depression, cancer and other diseases.
Pope Francis once said: "We have to laugh well. Laughter is good for health. Laughter reduces stress, unrest, and arteriosclerosis…. It increases positive cholesterol and spiritual health as well. After laughing, we feel refreshed. Surely, laughter is a clear way of expressing joy. I love laughter. Laughter lets me feel. The essence of laughter is immunity. God wants us to be happy and to laugh. God also laughs. Like love, laugher is a gift from God."
Recently, Bishop Lazarus You Heung-sik in the diocese of Daejeon was appointed prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy in the Holy See. Naturally, he became an archbishop and thus he will be ordained a cardinal sooner or later.
After Filipino Cardinal Jose Tomas Sanchez, Bishop Lazarus is the first South Korean to assume the position of "prefect" taking care of more than 400,000 priests around the world.
Originally belonging to the diocese of Daejeon, I was always conscious of his presence and observed that he has an extraordinary competence for friendly smiles, organization, and administration.
Since he has been a bosom friend of my second sister, I always appreciated his full smiles. His wholehearted laughter is so unique, spontaneous, and pure that he attracted various people beyond religion and ideology.
Smiles are God's gift as Job says that God fills "our mouth with laughter and our lips with rejoicing" (Job 8:21). Because the Lord has done great things for us, "our mouths were filled with laughter; our tongues sang for joy" (Psalms 126:2-3).
I think his smiles come from his simplicity, innocence, and freedom. He has no bank account; he is free to live with a spirit of poverty and entrustment to providence. At the same time, he is trying his best to be a good shepherd with his pastoral motto of "Lux Mundi" (I am the light). Without a distinction between Christian or non-Christian, he is willing to welcomes others. Without a sense of authority, he is good at harmonizing with other religions and making friendly relationships with others according to their level.
Furthermore, he is totally united with the Roman Catholic Church. When Pope Francis invited us to care for the poor countries alienated from getting the COVID-19 vaccine, he immediately accepted his offer and supported the church with generous sharing.
The author is a member of the Daughters of St. Paul (fsp.pauline.or.kr.) living and giving the Good News to the world by means of social communication.