Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time_C - Three Ingredients for a Happy Life_080722

Deacon Tom Writes,

“Three Ingredients for a Happy Life”

 

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

The readings today give us a practical guide to good living. First, there’s the matter of faith. You need it! Without it there is nowhere to turn, no one to trust, no shelter from the storms and rocky roads of life. Like the ancient people that God called out of bondage in Egypt, we need faith to get us through the hardships and the adversities we all experience at one or more times in our lives. Let’s face it, we’re fine as long as things are going our way. We enjoy the good times, the happy moments when we celebrate birthdays, graduations, weddings and anniversaries. We delight when we are successful in moving up the corporate ladder and get the big promotion. But those days of disappointment when things don’t work our right, when relationships fall apart or end, when we lose loved ones, that’s when faith, if we have fostered and nourished it, enables us to endure and eventually to heal. Faith, a faith built upon a deep and intimate relationship with Jesus, is a lifelong friend and companion, that enables us to live life to the fullest, in good times and in bad.

The Responsorial Psalm provides the second ingredient to a happy life inviting us to recognize the blessings we have received and to give thanks and praise to God. He has called us into an intimate relationship with him to share in his love and goodness. In doing so he fills the deepest longings and desires of our hearts that helps us grow in faith in him and trust in his works.

The gospel completes the list of essentials reminding us of what we should bring into this relationship, namely…. attentiveness and faithfulness. God requires that we be diligent servants… Always mindful of what the master wants done; always faithful to do what is required.

Some say that life is a mystery and there is a lot of truth in that statement. The same can be said about faith. There is a mysterious element to it that awakens our need to praise and give thanks to God, and moves us to be faithful and attentive servants. Like essential nutrients, these ingredients aid us in living good spiritual lives. They enable us to give mature and effective witness to the world that we are Disciples of Christ.

Jesus knows how difficult it will be to live according to the high standards He has set. So, once again He reassures us and tells not to be afraid. Words to comfort us and encourage us to persevere in our efforts to live good lives of faithfulness, praise and service.


Enjoy the day!
Deacon Tom

Visit my Blog at: www.deacontomwrites.blogspot.com

And tune into the www.deaconspod.com to hear a contemporary Catholic conversation exploring the treasures our faith has to offer.

Recommended Reading: A Sunlit Absence by Fr. Martin Laird O.S.A. takes us into the world of contemplative prayer in his second of three books on Contemplation.

Recommended Podcast: The Commonweal Magazine Podcast presents engaging conversations at the intersection of politics, religion, and culture: