Jesus says happiness is voluntary poverty, hunger, weeping, and persecution (Lk 6:20-22). The world says happiness is wealth, personal satisfaction, maximum pleasure, and popularity. Too many Christians follow the world's idea of happiness and tacitly reject Jesus' beatitudes. However, Jesus is the Way to happiness, tells the Truth, and knows the meaning of Life (Jn 14:6).
We must walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor 5:7). We can't understand how poverty, suffering, and persecution will make us happy, but we must take Jesus' word for it. Why should we human beings expect to understand God? We don't "feel good" about following a crucified Savior, but we walk by faith and not by feelings. Jesus' truths about happiness are absurd in the eyes of the world, "but to us who are experiencing salvation it is the power of God" (1 Cor 1:18).
Blest are you who love Jesus enough to take up the daily cross. Blest are you who love Jesus more than pleasure. Blest are you who are weeping for your sins. Blest are you who are so fired up for Jesus as to be persecutable.
| PRAYER: | Jesus, my Life, my Love, my Lord, my God, my All! |
| PROMISE: | "Since you have been raised up in company with Christ, set your heart on what pertains to higher realms where Christ is seated at God's right hand. Be intent on things above rather than on things of earth." –Col 3:1-2 |
| PRAISE: | Peter has chosen a lifestyle that gives him solidarity with Christians in the rest of the world and allows for prayer and almsgiving. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College