6th Sunday of the Year Happiness and Hope Jesus certainly has a different definition of ‘happiness’ to the one in common use. In today’s Gospel he calls happy those who are hungry, thirsty, weeping and persecuted. I wondered who in our society would fit such a description and the group that first sprang to mind were the boat refugees trying to get into Australia. Would they call themselves happy? Desperate is more like it. So what is it about their situation that could be a lesson to us? They may not see themselves as happy but they are burning with hope. This brought to mind the iconic photo of Max Dupain that shows Italian migrants of the 1950s on the boat as it docked in Australia. There is such a range of emotions across their faces but all were wondering and hoping what this land would bring them. We know that those migrants largely prospered because their hope led them to work hard and put into action their dreams. When we look at what Jesus criticises in today’s Gospel we see things which, though normally regarded as good, can easily, if we have too much of them, make us complacent. Consider how quickly we complain and even whinge about things that our grandparents would have thought nothing of. In the experience of the desperate migrant we see suffering transformed to hope and when hope is fulfilled, through risk and hard work, joy and satisfaction come about. I often hear migrants, who came here with nothing, glorying in what they achieved in this country. This can be a symbol to us of the Kingdom of God. Jesus wants us to be burning with hope for the coming of that Kingdom of God. We can too easily be lured and lulled by our affluence. As we approach the time of Lent we can consider what in our lifestyle makes us complacent and what we a prepared to do to bring about God’s Kingdom. Trusting in Jesus’ word, we will find happiness in being prepared to hope, to risk and to use our gifts and talents to the full to proclaim God’s love in our community.
Sr Kym Harris OSB |