Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12–13; Psalm 145(146); 1 Corinthians 1:26–31; Matthew 5:1–12
Shortcut to Happiness
Dear friends, today we celebrate the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A. The theme before us is striking and timely: “Shortcut to Happiness.” It speaks directly to a world impatient for fulfillment and constantly searching for the quickest route to joy. Yet, while almost everyone desires happiness, there is little agreement on what happiness truly is. For some, it lies in material comfort and the satisfaction of every want. For others, it is found in power, influence, and public recognition. Experience, however, teaches us a sobering truth: material prosperity, authority, and status rarely deliver lasting happiness. What, then, truly makes us happy?
Having experienced both bustling mega-cities and impoverished suburbs and villages, I have observed contrasting visions of happiness. In large cities, happiness is often measured by affluence, autonomy, efficiency, time, and money. In poorer neighborhoods and rural communities, happiness is frequently found in simpler realities: shared meals, communal celebrations, mutual support, and the quiet joy of belonging. The question we must ask is not which setting is superior, but whether either truly captures the essence of lasting happiness.
Today’s readings offer a clear and challenging answer. The prophet Zephaniah points us toward humility, integrity, truthfulness, and peace as the marks of the people God delights in. These are not loud or glamorous virtues, but they are enduring. St. Paul, in the second reading, takes this further by reminding us that God often chooses what the world considers weak or foolish to reveal divine wisdom. Worldly boasting, he insists, is empty. “Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord.” I once overheard a merchant proudly boasting that he had cheated a client by selling fake materials at double the price. He called himself “happy.” But was that happiness, or merely a fleeting thrill built on dishonesty?
In the Gospel, Jesus provides the clearest and most radical teaching on happiness. At the beginning of his public ministry, he gathers his disciples on the mountain and proclaims the Beatitudes—nine declarations of blessedness that redefine happiness from the ground up. Each Beatitude stands in sharp contrast to natural human instincts and social norms. Poverty of spirit is dismissed as weakness. Gentleness is seen as passivity. Mourning is interpreted as failure. Hunger for righteousness is replaced by the pursuit of convenience. Mercy is considered naïve. Peacemaking is often sacrificed for personal gain. Suffering for justice, or being insulted for Christ’s sake, is something most people go to great lengths to avoid. And yet, Jesus calls all these “blessed.” Do the Beatitudes shape your understanding of a good and meaningful life?
We live in an increasingly secular world where the values of God’s Kingdom appear unattractive or impractical. Still, the human conscience cannot be erased. It can be ignored or silenced for a time, but eventually it speaks with clarity and force. History reminds us that many once-powerful figures have fallen, many who oppressed others lie forgotten in their graves, and many who were wealthy and famous now live in fear or shame. At the same time, we must be clear: poverty or hunger caused by laziness or irresponsibility is not a blessing. Misery is not holiness. Equally misleading are modern voices that claim constant prayer without honest labor guarantees blessings. Jesus never taught that. The Beatitudes call for integrity, responsibility, and inner conversion. Are you growing spiritually, or slowly deteriorating?
Dear friends, as we continue this season of Ordinary Time—where we learn what it truly means to belong to the Kingdom of God—I invite you to examine your priorities. What do you value most? What shapes your decisions? Are these aligned with the Beatitudes, or with the passing standards of the world?
True happiness has no shortcut in the worldly sense. But in Christ, the path is clear. It is demanding, countercultural, and deeply liberating.
Have a blessed and truly happy Sunday.
Fr. Lawrence Muthee, SVD
(see also www.svdkentan.com)
SVD JAMBO KENTAN 