What Makes Us Happy

For you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ,

that for your sake he became poor although he was rich,

so that by his poverty you might become rich. // 2 Corinthians 8:9

“But mama, if I get it then I’ll be happy!” Sighing, I decided a different tactic was needed in explaining to my 6-year-old where actual happiness came from. “Ok, I want you to think of someone you’ve met who always seems happy.”

I expected him to mull over this and was curious who he’d define as such. Immediately, he blurted out the names of one of our diocesan priests and a Sister of Life we met years ago, declaring them to be always happy.

“Do you think they are always getting the newest building sets and that’s why they are happy?” Realizing the false connection, he admitted that probably wasn’t the case.

In today’s First Reading (see 2 Corinthians 8:1-9), Saint Paul extolled the Church in Macedonia, sharing not only of their sheer generosity and overwhelming joy, but of how their first offering of themselves was to God. 

We are called to be imitators of Christ, becoming one with Him. We are also to give of ourselves without measure. In spirituality, we are poor, and He is richness itself. And yet Christ came to empty Himself fully, impoverishing Himself to humanity’s level to exemplify love, and offering true happiness. And what He asks of us is to give ourselves back to Him. 

Both people who immediately came to my young son’s mind were defined by whose they were and how that manifested. No matter how much or little time we spent with these two individuals, what was clear to him was how much they loved Jesus and the sheer joy they received from serving people who desperately needed that love and joy too. 

Sister, I invite you today to pray the Prayer for Generosity from Saint Ignatius of Loyola and ask God to teach you the path to happiness, that of true generosity.