Friday September 3, 2021

Happiness

I have told you this so that my joy may remain in you and your joy may be complete. John 15.11

So many maxims about happiness ! Saint Augustine already counted more than 289 of them. The 18th century devoted nearly fifty treatises to him.

In Jesus' speech, no "Comment on happiness". The teaching of Jesus is not abstract. He does not say : "To be happy you must..." He is not a moralizer, but a messenger of hope. Those who were despised, poor in many ways, oppressed, hungry and thirsty for righteousness, peacemakers, took courage as they listened to Jesus.

Contemporary religiosity is often expressed by the search for personal development and earthly happiness, here and now, not in the hereafter. Jesus speaks of a happiness certainly future, but yet already present. Eternal life is promised, but already received : He who believes in me has eternal life (John 5.47).

Jesus showed the way to be happy : to return to God and receive the Good News. It is a source of joy, a joy that makes you want to live and strength in difficulty. In communion with God, the believer can say : “Jesus, may my joy endure”.

In fact, even in the face of adversity, this joy is present. Jesus promised it : Your heart will be filled with joy, and this joy no one will be able to take away from you (John 16:22).

Francis Bailet

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Proposed reading : Gospel according to Matthew, chapter 5, verses 3 to 12

Source (Live Today)