Episode Transcript  

One

The Petition 

The people of Ars didn’t know what to do with their priest. Fr. John Vianney was gentle and kind, but he kept calling them to deeper conversion: daily meditation, Sunday Mass, frequent confession, and devotion to the Eucharist. His love was relentless, and that made people uncomfortable.

Some parishioners and even fellow clergy thought he was too extreme. So, they did what critics often do: they wrote a petition to have him removed. They circulated it around town, gathered signatures, and prepared to send it to the bishop. One of the petitioners mistakenly handed the petition to Vianney himself to sign, not realizing who he was, perhaps assuming he was just another priest who was against Vianney. Vianney calmly read the petition…and signed it.

Two

Humility Makes Room for God

Why would Vianney sign the petition to get rid of him? Because he knew something most of us forget: Our identity and value do not come from the opinion of others. They come from God alone. God made John Vianney in His image, made him His adopted son by Baptism, and it was God who called him to be a priest and sent him to Ars. So, what other people thought changed nothing. Vianney didn’t need approval. He wasn’t seeking admiration. He was content to be nothing so long as God could be everything.

St. John Vianney had true humility, and humility has two parts: I am not God. I have strengths as well as limitations. I accept my strengths and use them for good. I accept my limitations because these remind me of my need for God. Therefore, when criticized, I don’t need to argue or defend myself. I am a child of God with infinite dignity. My value is not derived from the opinion of people. My value comes from God, my Father. God is making me divine by participation with Him. 

Humility doesn’t mean thinking less of yourself. It means being so secure in God’s love and the identity and value He gives you that you no longer need to think about yourself all the time. That freedom allowed him to have a great sense of humor. 

Three

The Secret of a Good Sense of Humor

We live in a world that takes itself far too seriously because it is afraid. Afraid of being found out. Afraid of being seen as weak or wrong or unimpressive. That kind of pride makes you rigid, defensive, and heavy. But the saints are light. They’re not afraid to look foolish. They’re not afraid to be wrong. They can laugh at themselves, not with sarcasm or bitterness, but with freedom and joy.

St. John Vianney’s humor came from his humility. He signed the petition because he knew that God made him a priest and that God was in control, so he didn’t have to control everything. If God wanted him at Ars, he would remain; if God wanted him elsewhere, then he wanted to be there. Humility and trust in Providence set Vianney free from all fear, and that is why he could live with such a good sense of humor. 

That’s interior freedom. And with that freedom comes a joy the world can’t touch.

Four

Chesterton Was Right

G.K. Chesterton once said, “Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly.” The soul weighed down by self-importance cannot fly. The proud heart cannot laugh. But the humble heart is like a child, quick to forgive, quick to hope, quick to delight in small things.

John Vianney lived in a deep friendship with Christ in the Eucharist and prayer. That’s why he could laugh at the absurdities of life and embrace suffering without bitterness. His heart was light. Not because life was easy, but because he had given everything over to God.

You want to grow in joy? Start by letting go of the need to be admired. Let go of the need to be right. Let go of the pressure to prove your worth. Take yourself less seriously and take God more seriously. You’ll find you can breathe again. And maybe even laugh again.

Five

The Saints Teach Us How to Be Human

A good sense of humor isn’t about telling off-color jokes or being the life of the party. It’s about being light-hearted in a heavy world. It’s the joy of a soul that no longer fears failure. It’s the smile of someone who has nothing to hide. It’s the calm confidence that comes from knowing you’re loved by God no matter what.

St. John Vianney didn’t need to guard his reputation. He didn’t need to win arguments. He didn’t even need people to like him. His value came from God, and his mission was secure in God’s hands. So when others tried to tear him down, he simply stepped aside and said, “If it pleases the Lord.” And the Lord smiled and kept him right where he was.

Suggested Resolutions:

Choose one resolution for today to help you grow closer to God, or create your own. Here are some ideas to inspire you. 

• Remember that you don’t have to take yourself too seriously, and there’s no harm in embarrassment and taking a joke when your identity comes from God alone.

• St. John Vianney knew that if God wanted him at Ars, he would remain; if God wanted him elsewhere, then he wanted to be there. Whenever the future feels uncertain, remember that principle, knowing that God’s will always prevails.

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