What makes us truly happy? What do we need and want to make us so? About 250 years ago the Declaration of Independence proclaimed that God gave us the right to be happy: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
For most of us, buying things, doing certain activities, and being like certain people, are a few of the ways that we seek happiness and fellowship. “Fitting in” and “being accepted” in our social circles were concerns for most of us as we grew up into adulthood. Those concerns likely remain today especially with the power of social media as we are influenced by those with whom we associate.
I am no stranger to this way of thinking. As a young adult, cars, vacations, and moving up in my career were the things that I wanted most. But after achieving those goals I still didn’t quite have happiness. The following scripture passage and Pope Benedict’s viewpoint on this topic have stayed with me and challenged my thinking.
“Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2).
Pope Benedict (2007) writes that man just needs one thing, but he must go beyond superficial wishes and belongings to recognize what it is that he truly needs and wants. “… Jesus calls this one simple thing for which we long ‘perfect joy’ John 16:24” (page 353). Pope Benedict points out that the fullness of life — happiness — comes only from God. “… Jesus gives us ‘life’ because he gives us God. He can give God because he himself is one with God, because he is the Son. He himself is the gift — he is life.” (page 353).
Ratzinger, J. Pope Benedict XVI. (2007). Jesus of Nazareth: From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration. Doubleday.
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