Both in his words and in his life Jesus contradicted the common wisdom about what constitutes human happiness. True happiness does not come from wealth or power or pleasure. Happiness comes from seeking the kingdom of God above all human quests. Jesus’ beatitudes are a discourse on the nature of true happiness.
Everybody wants to be happy. Nobody is satisfied to just exist. Something in each one of us longs for something more - a better quality of life; we long for something deeper, higher. This longing is an important part of what it means to be fully human. The problem is in our understanding of where and how do we find true happiness.
In our society, we have access to all kinds of fun, entertainment, excitement, thrills and pleasures this modern age can afford. Businesses have come up with ingenious television commercials telling us that happiness is found in the goods and services they sell. Brilliant advertising tells us that happiness is located in Las Vegas or Cache Creek or Graton or Hawaii or in Disneyland.
The lifestyles of those we call celebrities suggest that happiness is found in excessive wealth and unrestrained permissiveness…lifestyles in which anything goes… people doing whatever they want to do… regardless…
Our economy is fueled and depends upon people wanting more and therefore buying more, spending more…. Consumerism, materialism… trying to find happiness, satisfaction out there.
But, reality check - sooner or later, people realize that what all these voices offer is just temporary pleasure - thrills…just fleeting emotions; not true lasting happiness…too superficial to reach our deepest longings…
I am not saying it is wrong to have fun and have nice material things or pleasant experiences. Life cannot be all work….Simple pleasures of life are important… But we need to get our priorities straight…and focus on what really matters in life… what life is really all about.
Jesus said: "But seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Mt 6:33) …
Meaning – If our heart belongs to God – our friendships, our relationships, our business and entertainment interests, everything in our life falls into right order around God, the center of our life… God is the Supreme Good… The Summum Bonum.
In Christian philosophy – The Supreme Good is believed to be not just the best thing one could ever have but also that good which contains in itself or brings along with it all other good and desirable things, that which completely satisfies the otherwise insatiable desires of the human heart and God is the Supreme Good.
People think that happiness is situational… meaning… that they can expect to find happiness if only certain external circumstances would change….They think they will be happy when certain situation or event happens…. when summer comes, or after the wedding, or when they get the new job, or new house or new car or when they retire… or when their children are out of the house.
You know what - if we think this way, happiness becomes like a mirage on the highway – continually vanishing as we approach.
In the beatitudes, Jesus is speaking the truth about happiness… which can be found within us – not out there… not depending on circumstances.
One famous spiritual author wrote (William Barclay): “A change in fortune, a collapse in health, the failure of a plan, the disappointment of an ambition, even a change in the weather, can take away the fickle joy the world can give. But the Christian has the serene and untouchable joy which comes from walking for ever in the company and in the presence of Jesus Christ.”
Sometimes we cannot help what happens to us… sometimes things happen beyond our control but we can, however, determine and can control what our response will be… even with this pandemic, we can control how we react to circumstances.
St. Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians and he wrote this while he was in prison and he even thanked them for their concern. He said: “I am not complaining, for I have learned to be content in whatever situation I find myself.” (4:11) Rather than being at the mercy of his circumstances, St. Paul has learned to transcend them… to rise above them.
St. Paul shared his secret: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Christ is the key.
What is the difference between the people whom Jesus calls “Blessed” and those to whom he says, “Woe to you?” Those who are blessed have put their trust in God instead of in the world. Those to whom he says, “Woe to you” – are those who found their joy in the material world.
From our first reading from the book of the prophet Jeremiah – so beautiful:
“Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD,
whose hope is the LORD.
He is like a tree planted beside the waters
that stretches out its roots to the stream:
it fears not the heat when it comes;
its leaves stay green;
in the year of drought it shows no distress,
but still bears fruit.”
Wow! What an awesome imagery of the life in God…life in Christ…
You see - we cannot be truly happy without our personal intimate relationship with God – meaning - Fullness of life… true happiness… is the result of redemptive relationship with God and loving relationship with other people… and Jesus Christ is the key. Jesus is fully God and fully human and so through Jesus we can experience both oneness with God and unity with one another… becoming One Body of Christ… children of God, our Father.
Those who are truly happy are those who found happiness not in the tables in the world’s finest restaurants but in the Lord’s Eucharistic table… Holy Communion with God and with one another – through Christ, with Christ and in Christ. True happiness is within the person whose heart has been transformed by the living Christ. That is why St. Paul said: “It is no longer I who live; it is Christ who lives in me.”
Jesus pointed the way to happiness in giving us the two greatest commandments: “Love God with your whole being, and love your neighbor as yourself.” Meaning - Happiness comes to those who forget themselves – Happiness comes to those who have sacrificed all thoughts of happiness for the sake of a higher purpose. We are called to a higher standard of living and loving.
We cannot and should not pursue happiness for its own sake…It has been said: “Make happiness your pursuit, and it leads you on a wild-goose chase.”
Happiness is actually what we discover as a result of pursuing something higher or more noble… which is doing the will of God and loving other people. In basis simple term: If you want to be happy; then make other people happy. Happiness is not the goal of life. Happiness is actually God’s gift to those who have found the true goal of life… which is Oneness with God.
So, the question is: Are you happy? If not, why not?
Personally, when asked, why are you happy, Deacon? I reply "Because God loves me!" That's it! That is the basis of our dignity and worth and hope and joy. God loves us. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
When faced with life’s struggles, I just try to remember how God has been so miraculously good to me and my family, beyond what we could have ever imagined.
You see - until we truly really believe that God loves us, we cannot truly love ourselves and therefore, we cannot truly love others "as we love ourselves"
So, always remember this – you can forget everything I said earlier… remember this till the day you die: regardless of the circumstances or situations you might find yourselves in, ALWAYS REMEMBER: GOD LOVES YOU! GOD LOVES YOU! GOD LOVES YOU!
St. Augustine said: “You created us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you…”
God bless…
