Introductory Prayer: Lord, you want to give me the best, the all-satisfying happiness of Heaven. You do not forbid me to enjoy the things of this earthly life, so long as I use them intelligently and rightly. What you do not want is my inordinate love for what is wrong and unworthy of my human dignity. Grant me a love for your wisdom, and give me the strength to follow your will at all times and in all circumstances. You alone can give me the perfect happiness that will fill my soul with eternal joy. Help me to find my joy only in you, O Lord. Amen.

Petition: Lord, grant me the grace to understand that you created me for you and I will only find true happiness by doing your will and not mine.

Gospel: Lk 6:17,20-26

And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: "Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you that hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you that weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, on account of the Son of man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. But woe to you that are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you that are full now, for you shall hunger. Woe to you that laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you, when all men speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets."

1.   "He Lifted Up His Eyes on His Disciples."

What is it that man is ultimately searching for? What is man created for? Man is created for God, to be with him forever in total happiness. And where can happiness be found? It can be found only in God because the fullness of happiness is in union with God in the beatific vision. Here on earth I can also have happiness to a certain degree.

Jesus looks at me. He hasn't forgotten me; he thinks of me and loves me. In the Gospel we see the people going to Christ to find healing for their diseases. The reason why the people go to Jesus is to find what they desperately need, which is peace of heart. They seek happiness. Jesus knows human nature. He knows what I want, and what my needs are. He lifted up his eyes to his disciples He knows that my heart is ultimately searching for happiness. Because he loves me so much he tells me what the secret of happiness is. It is love for God and the detachment from self.

2.  "Blessed Are You."

Here is the paradox. Christ is saying "Blessed are you when you hunger, weep, and are hated by men." How is it possible that I can find happiness in what is contrary to the desires of my heart? Here Christ is not talking of hunger, weeping, or being hated by men for their own sake. Happiness is found in God. In order to be united with God, I need to be humble. I am his creature, and he is my creator, my God. Therefore I need to empty myself of myself and of creatures and let myself be filled with Christ. Only the humble will enter the Kingdom of Christ. Usually man turns to God when he is in need, when he is suffering or when he thirsts. God allows trials, difficulties and sufferings because he loves. Only the pure can see God and be with him. All these difficulties are allowed so that I can be purified and become detached from myself and totally devoted to God.

3.  "But Woe to You."

But woe to me if I am rich of myself, if I am full of myself, if I laugh for myself, and if I search to be well spoken of! This is what caused the fall of the proud. Pride is the backhoe that empties ones soul of the happiness given by God.

Many people say: See how well that man lives, how rich and great he is, how powerful and mighty. But I must lift up my eyes to the riches of heaven and realize that the material goods of which they speak are nothing. These things are uncertain and very burdensome because they are never possessed without anxiety and fear. "Man's happiness does not consist in the possession of abundant goods; a very little is enough." (Imitation of Christ, Thomas à Kempis, Bk 1, Ch. 22)

Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, I often seek my happiness in a selfish manner. Help me to understand that unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit (John 12:34).  Help me to empty myself so I may be full of you, full of joy and truly happy.

Questionnaire:  This optional questionnaire is intended to help you evaluate your life in light of the inspirations God just gave you in these moments you spent with him in prayer.

1.  Am I searching for happiness in God alone, or am I still searching for it secretly in earthly glory, honor and fame? Where do I seek happiness and why there?

2. Does my happiness and joy irradiate in my whole person? How do I show it? Can people actually say about me, This person is truly happy?
 
3. How often do I pray for true happiness, which is only found in the fulfillment of the will of God? How much time do I spend with Christ in prayer, trying to know him better and to love him more?