Sunday, October 20, 2024

Am I happy?  What makes me happy?  These are good questions to ask ourselves once in a while, because we get into patterns of living and doing things that can carry us mindlessly through life.  Our Gospel today is one that always helps me come back and ground myself in what really makes me happy.
 
The Gospel presents James and John asking Jesus for a favor.  When Jesus asks them what they want, they ask to sit at his right and left in his kingdom: in other words, they wanted to be above everyone else.  They thought that is what would make them happy.  Of course, we know that they were thinking of a different kind of kingdom than what Jesus was going to establish.  They thought that glory and power would make them happy, but that was not to be: Jesus explains that serving others is what really brings meaning, and thus happiness, to life.
 
So I reflect on people around me, asking myself who seems to be the happiest.  Inevitably, it is someone who is willing to help others, who goes out of their way to give people rides, serve on committees, etc. Someone who is not focused on things or power or recognition.  On the other hand, the least happy are those who are easily offended, who think of themselves, who want to be first.
 
Those reflections remind me of this central Gospel message: when I don’t have to be first, when I don’t need people to praise me, when I can relax and help others, I am the happiest. It reminds me to make sure I am doing all that I do for the right reason: love of God shown through love of neighbor.
 
I invite you this week to reflect: am I happy? What really makes me happy?  And let us support each other in prayer.
 
Church sign: Happiness is in the heart, not in the circumstances.