Want to be happy? Be like Jesus!
5th Sunday of Ordinary Time (B)
What’s up with this Sunday’s first reading? Normally we turn to the Bible when we need comfort or inspiration, but instead we find in this reading from Job, “Life is drudgery, I’ll never be happy again!”
Is Job just being a drama queen here? No. He’s had some pretty bad things happen to him, and we can also feel like that when bad things happen to us.
So what’s the solution? How do we keep from falling into despair? Jesus shows us the way to true happiness by the example he gives us in this Sunday’s gospel. What do we find Jesus doing there?
He heals the sick and casts out demons. We can also bring healing to others through our kindness, compassion, and works of mercy.
He proclaims the kingdom of God. We also can proclaim the kingdom by sharing the love that Christ offers and the joy it’s brought to our lives.
And finally Jesus goes off by himself into the desert to pray. No matter how busy we are, we all need to set aside time where it’s just us and God, so that we can be renewed by the life-giving waters he offers.
By imitating Christ’s example of doing good for others, communing with God in prayer, and preaching the good news, we can come to know lasting happiness even in the midst of the ups and downs of our life, certain of enjoying eternal happiness in the life to come.
