In the past week I've heard from the disgruntled 50 something talking about his marriage and that he wasn't happy. I've heard from the parents of the now empty nest hoping that their kids can find happiness. I've heard from a young person looking for a new job because the one they currently have doesn't make them happy. Happiness is something that comes up a lot. We use it as a filter for our lives. Happy = Good; Sad = Bad.
In the post Mister Rogers Neighborhood era, where now we are more open to talk about our feelings, I think we need to dig deeper. Because our quest for happiness will fail us - proven by our increasing struggles with addiction, depression and anxiety.
What is happiness? Is it getting everything we want? Is it a life of comfort and pleasure and constant joy? Is it a life where our work seems like a vacation and yet we earn endless income and have limitless fun? Is it not having to work and everything going perfectly at home with children who get straight A's and are the best in every sport and activity?
If any of this is happiness, Christ's life was a complete failure.
However, luckily the Son of Man was not interested in happiness. And if we dig a lot deeper, I contend we aren't either.
As our catechism states, and as our church has pointed out for thousands of years directly and indirectly through scripture and sacred tradition, our happiness is found in God. Period.
We don't seek happiness. We seek God. Addictions, depression, anxiety, problems with relationships and jobs and ourselves that we claim are preventing us from happiness will continue to plague us until we accept this reality and work with reckless abandon to prove it in our lives.
So, don't seek happiness. Seek God.
When we feel like we're not happy, we take a moment to ask what else God needs to provide? He has given us our lives. He has given us each other. He has given us himself. He has given us never ending life. If there's something more we need....ask!!!! If we do so with a pure and loving heart, He will listen.
When we truly accept Him we are so filled up we don't have time to worry about whether or not we are happy. And when that's the case we are lights for the world always and everywhere - even on Mondays and at Funerals.
In the post Mister Rogers Neighborhood era, where now we are more open to talk about our feelings, I think we need to dig deeper. Because our quest for happiness will fail us - proven by our increasing struggles with addiction, depression and anxiety.
What is happiness? Is it getting everything we want? Is it a life of comfort and pleasure and constant joy? Is it a life where our work seems like a vacation and yet we earn endless income and have limitless fun? Is it not having to work and everything going perfectly at home with children who get straight A's and are the best in every sport and activity?
If any of this is happiness, Christ's life was a complete failure.
However, luckily the Son of Man was not interested in happiness. And if we dig a lot deeper, I contend we aren't either.
As our catechism states, and as our church has pointed out for thousands of years directly and indirectly through scripture and sacred tradition, our happiness is found in God. Period.
We don't seek happiness. We seek God. Addictions, depression, anxiety, problems with relationships and jobs and ourselves that we claim are preventing us from happiness will continue to plague us until we accept this reality and work with reckless abandon to prove it in our lives.
So, don't seek happiness. Seek God.
When we feel like we're not happy, we take a moment to ask what else God needs to provide? He has given us our lives. He has given us each other. He has given us himself. He has given us never ending life. If there's something more we need....ask!!!! If we do so with a pure and loving heart, He will listen.
When we truly accept Him we are so filled up we don't have time to worry about whether or not we are happy. And when that's the case we are lights for the world always and everywhere - even on Mondays and at Funerals.