That word 'Happy'

Take a look at the front cover of any women’s magazine, and you’ll find a host of headlines promising to transform readers’ lives for the better. Inside you’ll find articles about miracle diets, the most flattering make-up, the latest fashions to achieve the perfect look. This trend is particularly noticeable at this time of year when the focus is on new year resolutions – new year, new you!

We live in a culture obsessed with appearances. The ultimate message is that we need to constantly transform our outward image in order to feel fulfilled and happy. If we let this message filter in, we can be left feeling empty, frustrated and dissatisfied with our lot.

But today’s Gospel speaks of a different type of happiness. The word ‘happy’ appears nine times in the Beatitudes – it is sometimes translated as ‘blessed’.

Which one will win?

You may have heard this story before:

‘An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. “A battle is going on inside all of us,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil – anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is good – joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. This same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.” The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?” The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed”.’

Where are the other nine?

As we know only too well, prejudice, ignorance, betrayal and social class can create apparently insurmountable divisions among us. But traditional barriers often crumble in the face of a common crisis or a great opportunity for a better life. This is particularly obvious nowadays in groups helping with recovery from addiction.

It is not surprising, then, that it happened among the lepers of Christ’s time. Lepers were total outcasts, banned from all contact with the settled community. Food was left for them by their families at designated outposts only. Living such a disrespected way of life, the century’s old and bitter barrier between Jews and Samaritans gave way to a survival camaraderie that led to a racially mixed group of lepers approaching Jesus for healing.

All were healed but only the one who was an outcast, through both race and health, returned to give thanks. The others felt that the healer was one of their own, so they were entitled to healing.