7th Sunday after Pentecost 8.7.18 Pursuit of
happiness
We make decisions all the time about what is the best option
to take. If we are buying something we weigh up the various factors. It comes
to this: what will give me the greatest satisfaction? It is not always easy to
decide.
The same principle holds for life itself. How should I live
my life for the greatest possible happiness?
We know that the answer must involve reference to Almighty
God, and His will.
If I walk in His way, I will bear fruit, like the tree
planted by the water’s edge (Ps 1,3).
Happiness, contentment, peace, will all be found with that
approach; at least insofar as having a serene conscience, whatever else may be
happening.
What is the alternative? To seek the happiness of this world
only, without reference to God's will or His commands, is the way to chaos.
The wages of sin are death as St Paul puts it (Rm 6,23).
Sin is taking the forbidden fruit. It looks good to eat, but
then it turns sour. We may feel good for a while, but then comes bitterness.
Even legitimate pleasures will exhaust themselves if we do
not bring all our lives under God's providence.
We have to make wise decisions, to plan the direction of our
lives. We plan everything else, like our finances, organising a party, planning
a holiday, or the extension on the house.
When it comes to the conduct of life itself, somehow that
can be left to chance, or just how we feel at the time.
More than any other topic we need to plan what we do with
our lives.
So where do we look for guidance? To the Church, appointed
by God to speak for Him until He comes again.
Many are leaving the Church at this time, due to
disappointment at the behaviour of some of its members.
We may share that disappointment but we cannot leave the
Church because ‘to whom else can we go?’ (Jn 6,68)
But there is another reason it can be hard to stay in the
Church – it requires discipline to avoid sin and choose always the good; to
turn away from worldly pleasures for the sake of higher and later rewards.
Well, they say you don’t have to get drunk to have a good
time. Likewise you don’t have to sin to have a good time.
Such negatives as there are in our teaching are to enhance
the happiness of the person, not to restrict or deny it. If we don’t steal, lie,
commit adultery etc, we will be happier than if we do. So the negative becomes
a positive source of happiness.
The best way to get to Heaven is to live in a heavenly way
on earth, observing purity, kindness, gentleness etc.
Breaking the laws of God will always tend towards chaos.
So we resolve to be good from now on. It will mean giving up
whatever leads to sin. It could be painful but will bring greater rewards, even
in this life.
We will discover new joys that come from a closeness to God,
new depths and dimensions we did not know were there. And still Heaven to come.
It takes constant renewal otherwise we will fall away through
neglect, and will surely sink into a worldly life.
It takes effort, but then people do not mind making an
effort if they believe in the cause. Look at what people do for physical
fitness, getting up early, running and swimming. But when it comes to something
religious, like early morning Mass: Oh
no, I couldn’t do that!
May God give us all the wisdom and the courage to decide
rightly what to do with the rest of our lives.
Everlasting life awaits us if we choose rightly.
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