The Path Towards Happiness

 “Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many [of you] were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth” (Cf. 1 Corinthians 1:26-31). According to St. Thomas, St. Paul is not saying that not many of the Corinthians were wise, but that not many of those who initially preached the Gospel and called them to the faith were wise. Matthew was a learned man, most probably, as St. Paul himself, but the rest were most likely fishermen. This is why St. Paul continues by saying that “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise,” that is, God chose for preaching His own truth mostly people who were foolish regarding worldly wisdom, and weak, and low, etc. so that it may be clear to all that human glory does not come from anything humanly possible but from God alone. St. Paul proceeds in three steps.

1. “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise.” Human wisdom is confused by the foolishness of preaching. “Greeks look for wisdom…” (1 Corinthians 1:22). Only a few of the greatest philosophers could arrive to affirm that there is a God, but they could not know God in Himself, because human intelligence is too low to see God. Our intelligence in front of God is like the eye of an owl trying to look at the sun. So, because we were not able to reach God, He spoke to some human beings about Himself, so that we may hear from them the way to Eternal Life, the way towards Him. What the greatest philosophers could not achieve, we achieve by listening to a bunch of Galilean fishermen. Not because God despises learning: some of the prophets were learned, like Moses and St. Paul. But it had to be clear that the Gospel message was coming from Him and was not some clever human construction. Against the pride of those who think that they can figure out everything, the Gospel preaches the obedience of the faith. “Deny yourself…” (Matthew 16:24).

The obedience of the faith makes us look foolish to the world, but it actually opens up for us a treasure of meaning and happiness that the world does not know and so desperately needs.

For this reason, this message does not close us up like an “elite,” but opens us to the world: we need to be compassionate and try to be convincing witnesses for people’s sake.

2. “God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.” Human power is confused by the weakness of the cross. “Jews demand signs…” (1 Corinthians 1:22). Human power could not save human beings from eternal death and was also unable to save from many evils; but we are saved by the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. Miracles, especially the ones Jesus performed, make our faith reasonable, but they do not make us immortal, nor do they give us power. Miracles make our faith reasonable, because they are signs that God was speaking through someone, but they were not meant for worldly power or welfare. Those who had power to heal and to raise the dead did not save themselves from death: keeping themselves alive in this world was not the point. Earth is not home, the house of Our Father in Heaven is home.

So, back to the point: “God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.” Those who had money could not make themselves happy, and here is Jesus, bestowing mercy, healing, forgiveness and happiness for free, to those who follow him. Against human power, against those who hope that riches will make them happy, the Gospel teaches the poverty of the Cross. “… Take up your cross…” (Matthew 16:24).

3. “Not many were of noble birth… God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are.” “Noble birth” refers to what human beings regard as worthy of praise. The world looks for welfare, pleasure, healthy lifestyle, etc. The world considers fortunate those who enjoy these things, and miserable whoever does not have them. We Christians, instead are blessed by our ministers with the sign of the cross. The cross is the means to obtain true happiness. Against worldly pleasures, against those who go in pursuit of comfort in all their actions, the Gospel teaches temperance and chastity, penance and patience in suffering, the carrying of our cross. “… And follow me” (Matthew 16:24). Jesus knows that true happiness comes, not from excesses, but from a certain harmony and peace that can only be achieved by self-denial.

From these reflections come three guidelines: 1) Realize that nothing worldly can make us truly happy (faith against pride), 2) stop putting our hope in things that cannot make us truly happy (hope against greed), 3) and take action: get rid of the things in which we wrongly have put our hope, and take up those things that will actually bring us closer to God and the true happiness of our hearts (love of God against selfishness).

We need to take this to prayer. Where am I regarding these guidelines? Do I need more faith, a better vision of what happiness truly means? How is my hope, in what do I put my hopes? What are the chains that prevent me from flying towards God and my true freedom? What are the boats I have to jump in to sail towards Heaven?