Homily For The Fourth Sunday In The Ordinary Time, Year A, January 29, 2023.
Do you wish to find eternal happiness and blessing? Follow the way of the beatitudes. They might seem paradoxical, but Christ has taught them to contradict our worldly standards of seeking happiness and vain glory.
SUNDAY READING
My Dearest Friends,
In today’s Gospel, Jesus instructs His disciples in the paradoxical blessedness of poverty, hunger, sorrow, and persecution. “Blessed are those who are poor, hungry, weeping, hated, excluded, insulted, and denounced.” We are blessed in all these adverse states when we recognize our dependence on God. The first reading speaks of a remnant of a people humble and lowly who shall take refuge in the name of the Lord and not in their achievements. In poverty and hunger, we recognize God’s Providence. In sorrow for sins we are offered reconciliation with God and in persecution, we can find the true joy of standing for the Faith with heroic conviction. What makes one blessed is not simply poverty nor hunger nor sadness or suffering for the Faith, but living these in the context of our commitment to Jesus and His Spirit of sharing in our sufferings. The Beatitudes must be understood as eschatological statements which see and evaluate the present in terms of future glory and everlasting happiness.
Seeking Happiness in Worldy Standards.
Modern society has witnessed an increased rate of suicide incidents and suicidal attempts. Happiness seems to be an elusive idea for those contemplating dying. The unbearable suffering and disappointments in life have frustrated many into thinking that life is not worth living and eternal happiness an illusion. Over-ambitiousness and failed expectations from family, relationships, and personal struggles have put many into despicable situations of despair. Faith in God’s comforting and reassuring words: “Come to me all you who are weary and overburdened and I will give you rest.” ( Mathew 11:28) can no longer sustain those in these dark moments of life if they have given up on God. We must admit that faith and religious belief have a role to play in helping us Christians embrace the truth that happiness in this life has nothing to do with our achievements and material situations. Many of those who contemplate taking their life is not all that impoverished, tormented, or persecuted by harsh experiences of life, but are often the most fortunate and highly privileged in life. No matter what the cause might be: psychological, social, economic, or spiritual we must not forget that Jesus heals the body, the soul, and the mind. We have to realize we are all in these together and should console and support each other, especially those who are going through challenging times and difficulties.
True happiness Flows From acknowledgment of God’s Presence.
Today He reminds us that true happiness has everything to do with our acknowledging we are children of a Heavenly Father who cares. Our faith in Him and our little acts of charity to others bring us true happiness.
The Beatitudes Are Road Maps
The Beatitudes are roadmaps to happiness in this life and the hereafter. They are the recipe for realizing the best version of ourselves.
Caring For Others A Way To Happiness
In his book, The Biggest Lie In The History of Christianity, Mathew Kelly speaks about creating holy moments. A holy moment is when one spends time doing good to others and putting smiles on their faces. It is by creating holy moments that we realize the best version of ourselves – the truly happy version. We need to respond to the challenge of the Beatitudes in our daily life. Millions are starving, persecuted, homeless, and living hopeless lives. The only way the promises of the Beatitudes can become a reality for them is through the efforts of people like us. Hence, let us remember that each time we reach out to help the needy, the sick, and the oppressed, we share with them a foretaste of the promises of the Beatitudes, here and now. Let’s support each other to shoulder the burdens of many in difficulties.
Reprioritize Your Goals
We need to prioritize our goals in life and choose wisely the way that leads to true happiness. The way of life and true happiness is the way to God, the way of the Beatitudes, and the way of rendering loving service to God in service to our brothers and sisters.
Boast of Nothing and Trsut Not In Men
Happiness is not an elusive idea. You can truly be happy when you don’t put hope and faith in earthly things and expectations from human beings. When we do not boast of anything we have achieved as we heard from Paul in the second reading realizing that we are nothing and have nothing without God, and He chooses the weak to shame the strong. Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. (Cf. Ps 146:3)
Don’t Be Frustrated
If you have been frustrated, look deep inside yourself and reassure yourself. You can be happy again. When we look up to God and put our faith in Him, He fills us with the spiritual consolation that our present predicaments are not the end of the journey.
Many are persecuted for righteousness’ sake but they never become depressed or despondent because Divine Assurance is, that victory will be theirs in the end. Practice self-detachment, be a peacemaker, and let your heart and intentions be pure. Hunger and desire for what will truly last, what is good and acceptable to God. When we trust and hope in God’s promises, we become optimistic in every challenge of life and it is this optimism that paves the way to our happiness. Having a good time in a bar or club might make you feel better at that moment but can never guarantee you lasting happiness. In our painful experiences, we need to acknowledge that God is with us and has not abandoned us. It might be helpful to offer a little help to someone you know that is going through difficulties; doing this might change your perception of how you feel.
God has not promised us an easy life but He promised to be with us to the end to ensure a happy ending. Our happiness in heaven begins when we create happy and holy moments in this life. Our everlasting happiness is assured when we remain faithful to the end. Don’t give up; don’t take your life. When everything fails, try one last solution and that is unflinching faith and hope in God who can turn things around for you and give you peace.
May God help us to realize that true happiness comes from: living the Beatitudes, from our dependence and faith as God’s children, and from sharing our blessings with others.
I keep you and your family always in my prayers. ©Clem C. Aladi (2024)
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