Secrets to Happiness

Christ Preaching at Capernaum by Gottlieb

I came across a book titled The Power of Meaning, which may be edifying reading during Lent (beginning Ash Wednesday, February 26).

Happiness, the book proposes, results from living an other-centered life. The author, Emily Esfahani Smith, describes ingredients for a meaningful life:
First, a sense of belonging, whether family, friends or colleagues. Belonging makes us feel that we matter and that we have people where we can be our true selves. The second ingredient, purpose, motivates and energizes us to do something for others. The third ingredient: storytelling. We are all storytellers in that we try to make sense out of our lives and form an identity. The final ingredient: transcendence -- living for someone or something greater than ourselves.

But I would add one more ingredient: there's within every human being a subconscious if not conscious quest for what is ultimately good and true and beautiful: we call this God. To paraphrase St. Augustine in his classic "Confessions" of the fourth century: our  hearts are restless until they rest in Thee, O God.

Now what does God's word say? Jesus in today’s Gospel asks us to love our enemies. The real challenge is to love people we live and work with -- to create and nurture a friendly, helpful and welcoming environment. Jesus instills within us a vision that sees beyond stereotypes, politics and appearances and recognizes the “spark of the divine” in everyone.

In the Greek text of Matthew’s Gospel, the word for love is agape. That indicates an open, unconditional love for our fellow human beings, wishing them all good. You don’t have to like someone to love them. The agape that Jesus asks us to have means that, no matter how much someone upsets us, we will never let bitterness close our hearts to them nor will we seek anything but their good. Agape recognizes the humanity we share with all people.

Jesus makes radical demands upon us: “give to everyone who asks.” Who can do that? How understand these teachings? First, Jesus connects our love of God with our love for one another. We can’t say we love God and yet neglect fellow human beings in need.

Second, these ethical teachings have to be linked to the mission of Jesus. Jesus proclaims that the kingdom of God is in our midst. Yes, the kingdom is here but not fully. You and I live in-between the historical coming of Jesus centuries ago and the final coming of Jesus at the end-time. We live in the tension between.

Jesus indicates the goal or thrust of our behavior, the direction of our lives: be generous.
To the person who strikes you on one side of the face, Jesus says, offer the other as well. But sometimes we have to stand up against wrongs. The teaching of Jesus indicates again the thrust or direction of our lives, that is, we should try to be peacemakers, healers, bridge builders, reconcilers.
The genuine disciple seizes the many opportunities to do good today.

Wishing you blessed days this Lenten season.

Doing The Right Thing

A Quote from Adlai Stevenson

We’re approaching the holy season of Lent, beginning Ash Wednesday, March 6 this year.

Today’s word of God takes us back to the second century before Jesus.  The wisdom of Sirach is one of Israel's many spiritual guides. Here the author writes that our words, for better or worse, reveal who and what we are.

Do our words build people up or tear down?  Are we constructive or destructive?

St. Paul in his letter to the Christian community in Corinth waxes eloquently about the resurrection. Yes, our faith proclaims that good ultimately will triumph over evil, light over darkness, life over death. Because Jesus Christ is risen. He lives and because He lives, we live.

Paul urges us to focus upon God and the things of God; live a godlike life.

In the Gospel according to Luke, Jesus says: don't be too quick to point out the shortcomings in others while blind to your own shortcomings. Don't be hypocrites, saying one thing and doing another. Let your inner attitudes be in sync with your outward behaviors.

Yes, be men and women of integrity, of moral character, true to our inner selves.

One of my favorite quotes about moral character is from Norman Schwarzkopf, who led the allied coalition that drove the Iraqis out of Kuwait in the Persian Gulf in 1990. Schwarzkopf said this:

“Leadership is a whole combination of different ingredients – but by far, by far, the single most important ingredient of leadership is your character. …  Integrity: that is the linchpin.”

So what is character?

First, there’s a difference between personality and character. Personality on the surface puts us in a category – e. g. cheerful, or moody, or excitable, etc. Character, by contrast, is singular and defines who we are, at the core of our inmost self.  It's what we do when no one else is looking.

Personality is emotional. Character is ethical. Personality is neither good nor bad. Character, by definition, is either good or bad. By character, one stands out. That takes courage.

A person of moral character will choose dignity, respect, a willingness to go the extra mile. A person of character will speak up for what is right and defend what is fair, will take a stand on principle and an informed conscience. A person of character will show courage, and not simply “get along by going along.”

A person of character, in short, will try to choose what is true and good and right in all decisions, small and great.

Each of us is called to this. And having found what is right and true and good: as the advertisement says, “just do it.”