Our Happiness
In 1996, the American singer & songwriter, Sheryl Crow, wrote and performed a song that made its way to the Billboard Top Ten and earned her a Grammy. Entitled If It Makes You Happy, the lyrics go like this…
If it makes you happy
It can’t be that bad
If it makes you happy
Then why the hell are you so sad?
Decades later, I surmise that her song (and question) continues to resonate because, despite our success in amassing greater wealth and “things” than prior generations, surveys show that, especially among younger people, there are growing levels of sadness across our society. Again, to borrow from her lyrics, then why are we so sad?
In his best-selling book, Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch Albom reflected that…
People haven’t found meaning in their lives, so they’re running all the time looking for it. They think the next car, the next house, the next job. Then they find these things are empty, too, and they keep running.
On this Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, the scriptures provide us with important insight regarding the road to happiness. In the first reading, the prophet Jeremiah (17:5-8) cautions us that when we turn our hearts away from the Lord, we are like a barren bush in the desert. Likewise, the Psalmist (Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 &6) provides us with guidance on how we should live our lives; chiefly, by not following the counsel of the wicked, walking in the way of sinners, or sitting in the company of the arrogant. To borrow a phrase from one of my beloved uncles: “When wisdom hits you in the face and you still opt to travel down the rathole before you, nothing but sadness will come your way. So don’t!”
Regarding placing our trust and hope in the Lord, St. Ignatius of Loyola once said: “Give me your love, my God, and this is enough for me.” What about you and me? How often do we think about God’s love for us? How often do we consider that we were on God’s mind before He created the world? How often do we shut down our busy world and make time for Him—so that a true and loving relationship might develop?
This October, I’ll have been ordained 17 years. While the years have come-and-gone like a flash, each moment (whether a baptism, wedding, funeral, etc.) has opened for me a deepening relationship with the Lord. During the past week, I have been thinking of one in particular that caught me by surprise. It was a Holy Hour many years ago that I had planned to the tee. That evening, parishioners and I had gathered in our day chapel. After exposing and incensing the Blessed Sacrament, I had taken my seat in anticipation of a half-hour of silence when, five minutes in, someone had entered the church, turned on the sound system, and began playing ragtime music that made its way into the chapel. After nearly exploding, however, I began to smile. Later that evening, a woman walked up to me and let me know that she was observing my reaction and happy that I smiled. And then, she provided me with an interesting perspective that I’ve never forgotten and often think about. After telling me that she thought Jesus was smiling, she continued: “Jesus loves when we invite Him into our lives and bring Him along. He loves when we ask Him for advice. He loves when we share with Him our worries, our sorrows, and our joys. At those moments, we are happiest because we are one with Him.“
In the Gospel of Luke (6:17, 20-26), we hear Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain. There, He reminded those in earshot that the poor, hungry, weeping, and those persecuted for acknowledging Him will receive their eternal due: that the kingdom of God will be theirs; that they will be satisfied; that they will laugh; and that their reward in heaven will be great.
Today, may we know that Jesus’ words are also for us! Therefore, let us renew our love for the Lord and place our trust and every hope in Him. When we do so, may our sadness turn to happiness and everlasting joy!
