happiness is...
"Raising His eyes to His disciples, He said: 'Blest are you poor; the reign of God is yours.' " —Luke 6:20
Jesus says happiness is voluntary poverty, hunger, weeping, and persecution (Lk 6:20-22). The world says happiness is wealth, personal satisfaction, maximum pleasure, and popularity. Too many Christians follow the world's idea of happiness and tacitly reject Jesus' beatitudes. However, Jesus is the Way to happiness, tells the Truth, and knows the meaning of Life (Jn 14:6).
We must walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor 5:7). We can't understand how poverty, suffering, and persecution will make us happy, but we must take Jesus' word for it. Why should we human beings expect to understand God? We don't "feel good" about following a crucified Savior, but we walk by faith and not by feelings. Jesus' truths about happiness are absurd in the eyes of the world, "but to us who are experiencing salvation it is the power of God" (1 Cor 1:18).
Blest are you who love Jesus enough to take up the daily cross. Blest are you who love Jesus more than pleasure. Blest are you who are weeping for your sins. Blest are you who are so fired up for Jesus as to be persecutable.
Prayer: Jesus, my Life, my Love, my Lord, my God, my All!
Promise: "Since you have been raised up in company with Christ, set your heart on what pertains to higher realms where Christ is seated at God's right hand. Be intent on things above rather than on things of earth." —Col 3:1-2
Praise: Peter has chosen a lifestyle that gives him solidarity with Christians in the rest of the world and allows for prayer and almsgiving.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our leaflet, Risen Life, or our tape Meeting the Risen Christ on audio AV 4A-1 or video V-4A.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, March 14, 2007
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