Greetings from the Supreme Council to all of you brothers and sisters in the Noble Order of the Knights and Ladies of Marshall. Permit me once again to use this medium to wish you a very fruitful and prosperous 2021. I am very much aware of the challenges our world is going through due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Our hearts are filled with fear and sorrow. My question for reflection is, in spite of the fear and sorrow, can there still be a true and sincere happiness?
St Irenaeus is quoted to have said, “The Glory of God is man fully alive”. That’s exactly how we were wired to live. Yet sadness, depression, feelings of apathy and helplessness often characterize our lives. But the most important questions for us at the beginning of the year 2021 are “what does it mean to be happy?” Why does happiness seem to always be one step ahead or behind us? I have encountered many Brothers and Sisters say things like the following?
– “Are you happy now?”
– “This is not my happy face.”
– “I have to do what makes me feel happy!”
– “If it makes you happy, do it.”
Human beings throughout history have been searching for happiness. After thousands of years, you would think that human beings would have figured out how to be happy- or at least have agreed on a definition of the word. Unfortunately, because happiness so often seems to be elusive, people often try to find it in all the wrong places. Many times, they fall for an artificial happiness that they create with behaviors that give temporary pleasure.
In the midst of hopelessness, God offers the good news of his transforming grace, mercy, love, and eternal happiness: “The Spirit and the Bride say, “come!” Let whoever hears this also say, “come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him approach; and whoever wants, let him take the free gift of the water of life” (Rev 22:17).
TRUE SATISFACTION COMES FROM THE LORD
Our greatest needs and longings can be fulfilled only in God, the “fountain of living waters” (Jer 2:13). Despairing people everywhere thirst for gladness, trying to derive it from sources that cannot ultimately satisfy. They eagerly drink from contaminated water surrounded by huge signs with neon letters flashing, “Fun and Happiness!” Sometimes there’s no fun at all, and usually what little happiness there is quickly evaporates, leaving shame and regret. If the signs were accurate, they would warn, “Deadly Poison,” with the caveat underneath: “May taste good before it kills you.”
God laments the poor choices we make when searching for happiness: “My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water” (cf. Jeremiah 2:13). When we are thirsty, we don’t look for “water” on social media to find out what others say about water. We don’t drink out of the nearest puddle. Similarly, in the spiritual realm, I find God to be pure, refreshing, and satisfying. My happiest days are when I drink most deeply of him. I also know that if I don’t drink of him, whatever else I drink from will leave me thirsty, dissatisfied and sick.
MOST SOURCES OF HAPPINESS ARE FAKE
“Following someone blindly is a very bad idea.” This is good advice for gullible people who are prone to believe that counterfeits can deliver happiness. But all fake sources of happiness, bring pain and loss. Jesus, in contrast, is fully worthy of our trust. He, who drank the cup of suffering on our behalf so we could be saved (cf. Mt 26:27-28), makes this offer: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’” (Jn 7:37-38). We are free to be unhappy. We are free to search for happiness where it can’t be found. What we are not free to do is reinvent God, the universe, or ourselves so that what isn’t from God will bring us happiness. It cannot, and it never will.
Are you thirsty for happiness- for meaning, peace, contentment? Jesus invites you in this 2021 to come to him and drink the best water in the universe- the only refreshment that will ever fully and eternally satisfy.
THE HOLY SPIRIT DELIVERS HAPPINESS
Once we have come to Christ and experienced his refreshment, part of the Holy Spirit’s ministry is to infuse us with happiness in God. Richard Sibbes, a sixteenth century English theologian wrote, “Though we have not always the joy of the Spirit, yet we have the Spirit of joy.” In other words, even in times of sorrow, happiness is not far away, since the Holy Spirit, who is also the Happy Spirit, indwells every believer. St. Paul in his letter to the Galatians listed nine qualities as the fruit of the Spirit: “God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind. . .” (cf. Gal 5:22-23).
My brothers and Sisters let us exude these fruits of the spirit as leaders in our communities as the Marshallans that we are. Let us be there for one another and eschew disaffection and even hatred and let love, patience, peace reign. Let the heart of charity that guided us in the height of the pandemic to do great things for the Church and humanity not depart, for that is how to sow the seed of happiness as the Holy Spirit dwells in us making others happy as they encounter us.
CONCLUSION
My gift for you my dear brothers and sisters in this 2021 in spite of the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic is true Happiness. I am very confident God is preparing the best way for us. Let us not give up. Let us always remain cheerful and trust in God. He has assured us that He will never leave us orphans. May this 2021 be one of the best years for us all. Our prayer for PROTECTION this month will travel far with us if we have true happiness. Long live the Knights and Ladies of Marshall! Long live the Holy mother, the Catholic Church!
!SUPREME KNIGHT’S MONTHLY REFLECTION – JANUARY 2021