Over the centuries, we have made tremendous advances and gained many things. We are taught that we can have it all. We are encouraged to rely on ourselves, to do what we want to do, to be who we want to be. We define success by our possessions, our popularity, and our power. The pressure to outdo each other and grow in status often hinders the enjoyment derived from our accomplishments and acquisitions. If we are not careful, however, our temporal progress can be eclipsed by spiritual loss.
If you have been following along the past couple of months, you know that our ultimate happiness and joy come from above. We are greatly limiting our potential if we believe we can lead our happiest, most joyful lives without the benefit of God. Certainly, we can enjoy pleasure, success, and well-being on our own. But after each triumph, we will wonder what comes next. When the greatest good we seek is not the Greatest Good, we will always want something more, we will never feel completely fulfilled, and our bliss will eventually fade.
Why is that? The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that our natural desire for happiness “is of divine origin: God has placed it in the human heart in order to draw man to the One who alone can fulfill it” (CCC 1718). Pope Saint John Paul II adds: “God made us for joy. God is joy, and the joy of living reflects the original joy that God felt in creating us.” Saint Ignatius of Loyola elaborates that “It is characteristic of God and his angels to bring to the soul, when they occupy it, true happiness and spiritual joy; and to drive from it the sadness and trials which the enemy incites in it.”
Simply put, if we want to be our best selves, we need to become the people God made us to be. Saint John Vianney observes that “The soul of one who serves God always swims in joy, always keeps holiday, and is always in the mood for singing.” We can make the world a better place by shining the light of Christ on our modern lives. Through the application of ancient wisdom, the spiritually dead come alive, the broken are restored, the anxious are at peace, the lost find purpose, the lonely feel loved, and the hopeless receive enduring joy.
The secret for happiness and joy is available to everyone, and it is available immediately. Saint Josemaría Escrivá reveals: “With crystal clarity I see the formula, the secret of happiness, both earthly and eternal. It is not just a matter of accepting the Will of God but of embracing it, of identifying oneself with it–in a word, of loving the Divine Will with a positive act of our own will.–This, I repeat, is the infallible secret of joy and peace.”
Our weekly challenges this month will focus on the gifts from God that empower us to attain our happiness. God creates us to seek happiness and receive joy, He elevates our ability to achieve true happiness, He partners with us to find lasting happiness, and He is guiding us right now. Please comment on how turning toward God helps you turn toward a life filled with joy. No God, no happiness; know God, know happiness!
