Are You Happy?

Homily for the Solemnity of All Saints
1 November 2013

          Are you blessed?

        No, really . . . Are you blessed?

        We just heard the great teaching of the Beatitudes, where Jesus reminds us who are the blessed.

        But I guess that I should rephrase the question: Are you happy?

        My brothers and sisters, as we celebrate this great and awesome Solemnity of All Saints, we remember that we aim for what those saints in Heaven have obtained: eternal blessedness; eternal happiness. And since we are members of the Communion of Saints, we have that same opportunity to achieve the blessedness, the happiness that they have.

        The Beatitudes are not just some “nice words” that Jesus randomly spoke on some random mountain two thousand years ago. The Beatitudes are a plan for our lives here on Earth so that, God willing, when our time comes, we will be able to rejoice in that eternal blessedness, that eternal happiness in the fullness of the Kingdom of Heaven.

        So, are you happy? And not just “happy”, but blessedly happy?

        If you and I were to take the teaching of the Beatitudes seriously, we would be.

        Dear friends, today’s feast celebrates the fact that there have been women and men throughout the ages who have found that they could pursue eternal happiness here on Earth, even in the light of knowing that they were sinners. These holy people, some who we know and many more that we don’t, exemplify for us that when we focus our lives on Christ, and model our lives after Him, we CAN be happy, despite the fact that we’re all sinners.

        As members of the Communion of Saints, we are the people who do long to see the Face of God. Those whom we celebrate today have had that longing fulfilled. We rejoice in their victory. Yet we also draw inspiration from their lives. We know that these saints were not perfect on Earth, that they struggled with temptations and sin, that they made decisions in their lives which distanced them from God. But, in the end, they were able to follow that plan God gave to them by living out the Beatitudes.

        Now, in this time and space, it is up to us to follow their example, and endeavor to live a life that provides us assured blessedness and true happiness. It’s now up to us to follow the plan Jesus taught to us in the Beatitudes.

        This is the only way to truly be blessed. This is the only way for us to attain true happiness.

        My brothers and sisters, as we consume the Eucharist this day, we should become more aware of how this Sacred Communion unites us not only to our God, but also to each member of the Communion of Saints, knowing that as members of the Church Militant, the Church Triumphant and the Church Suffering (which we will celebrate tomorrow with the Commemoration of All of the Faithful Departed), we have the opportunity and obligation to support each other on the path of the Beatitudes, pursuing that eternal blessedness and overwhelming happiness that only God can give.

        Are you blessed?

        Are you happy?

        If not, heed the advice of Saint Paul Miki to “ask Jesus to make you happy.” But, like the saints, recognize your faults and failings and pursue that happiness in the life of the Church and her Sacraments, so that, together, we may one day attain that fulfillment of blessedness that our friends in Heaven now enjoy.

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Enjoy the journey . . .