True Happiness Is Found in God

True Happiness Is Found in God The Gospel of the Beatitudes presents a vision of happiness that overturns ordinary human expectations. While the world associates blessedness with wealth, power, and security, Jesus proclaims the blessed as those who are poor in spirit, meek, merciful, pure of heart, and persecuted for righteousness. Drawing from Greek and Hebrew traditions, the Homily explains that “blessed” no longer means being untouched by suffering, but rather living with a heart oriented toward God. Blessed Means . . . A divided heart seeks happiness in wealth, power, pleasure, and fame, yet remains restless and unfulfilled. In contrast, a pure or undivided heart finds its fulfillment in God alone. From this God-centered heart flows mercy, justice, and love for others. True happiness, the Homily informs us, is not found in worldly achievements but in meditating on and living according to the law of the Lord, allowing God to be the sole treasure of the heart. Listen to this Meditation Media. True Happiness Is Found in God ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gospel Reading: Matthew 5: 1-12 First Reading: Zephaniah 2: 3; 3:12-13 Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1: 26-31 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Art Work Snowbow: QoAHs Digital Team: 2026 Taken near Rochester, NY ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why was this image selected: Have you ever just stopped and looked at the world and appreciate the beauty within it … the beauty God has made within this world? The QoAH digital team recently experienced a special nature moment viewing a Snowbow. Ok, is there really such a word? The answer is yes! It happens when the rising sun shines off snow crystals in the air. The above image shows the rising sun on the right and snow crystals revealing an orange and red stream of color. The vertical bands of color are straight up and down, unlike the normal arc curve of a typical rainbow. There was another upward band to the right of the sun … off camera. Just an amazingly beautiful view of nature… Happiness Found in God!