Tag Archives: happiness

DELIGHTING IN GOD’S LAW

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Friday 11th December – Friday of the 2nd week of Advent

Reflection: Psalm 1: 1-6

DELIGHTING IN GOD’S LAW

The book of Psalms begins with a promise of blessedness for the man who delights in the law of God and meditates on it day and night. To “delight” in something means “to have great pleasure” in it. God promises fruitfulness and prosperity, in and out of season for the man who takes great pleasure in His word. More so, the first reading of today reveals even more blessings upon the one who is alert to God’s commandments.

How then can we as youth take great pleasure in God’s law? God’s law is outlined for us in scripture and in the church’s tradition. As we study God’s word and the teachings of the Church, the Body of Christ, we come to know what God requires of us. God’s requirement of our way of life is often contrary to that of the world around us. If we live by the world’s standards, we will find ourselves following the counsel of the wicked, lingering in the way of sinners and sitting in the company of scorners. This standard of living brings nothing but doom. (Psalm 1: 1, 5-6).

What does the world around you say about pre-marital sex, abortion, use of hard drugs, homosexuality, lying, revenge, unforgiveness, exam malpractice, theft etc? What do God and his Church say about all these? We must seek daily to know God better by studying His word, obeying it and asking for his help in difficult moments. Only then would we be partakers of the divine blessing of all round fruitfulness and prosperity.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, your call to holiness is one that entails standing up for you in the midst of a sinful world. Please increase in me a desire to know you more and to live out your precepts. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 282 – Does Sacred Scripture speak about a way to happiness?

We become happy by trusting in Jesus’ words in the Beatitudes.

The Gospel is a promise of happiness to all people who wish to walk in God’s ways. Especially in the Beatitudes (Mt 5:3-12), Jesus has told us specifically that eternal blessedness is based on our following his example and seeking peace with a pure heart.

HIDE A TREASURE: “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to thy word” Psalm 119:9 RSV-CE

Readings for today: Isaiah 48: 17-19; Psalm 1: 1-6; Matthew 11: 16-19

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CHRIST – OUR SOURCE OF JOY

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Wednesday 22nd April – Wednesday of the 3rd week of Eastertide

Reflection: Psalm 66:1-7

CHRIST – OUR SOURCE OF JOY

Happiness and joy are two words that are often used interchangeably. However, there is a difference between them. While happiness depends on our circumstances, joy goes beyond them. For instance, getting a good grade at school, having your favourite meal for supper and having your needs met may be sources of happiness. Joy on the other hand springs from your heart and is there even when life is rough and circumstances are unpleasant.

Joy is a gift; a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22) and one of the blessings of the resurrected Lord. He is indeed our source of joy. Christ triumph over death on the cross and the assurance that we are God’s children through Baptism in His name is our source of joy and transcends whatever difficulties we may experience in our daily lives. Hence we have every reason to praise Him with today’s psalm.

Today, ask the Lord to fill you with His joy and make a choice to dwell in that joy. A Christian without joy has something missing. Let your joy lead to you to praise God in every circumstance of life and radiate this joy to others. You are a child of God; a heir to His kingdom Why not join your voice with those of the angels as they sing psalms to the praise of His holy name.

PRAYER: Lord, please fill my heart with joy and let this joy lead me to praise you always. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 311 – What are the fruits of the Holy Spirit?
The fruits of the Holy Spirit are charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, and chastity.

HIDE A TREASURE: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.” Philippians 4:4 RSV-CE

Today’s Readings: Acts 8: 1-8; Psalm 66: 1-7; John 6: 35-40

FULFILLING PURPOSE

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Thursday 9th April – Thursday of the Octave of Easter

Reflection: Luke 24:36-48

FULFILLING PURPOSE

Christ is the fulfilment of the old covenant as revealed by the Law and Prophets. Through His life, death and resurrection, He fulfilled every prophecy spoken about him – the Messiah.

Dear friend, you and I are sojourners on this earth, created by God to fulfill a purpose. Christ did not find it an easy task to fulfill His purpose; it demanded great humility, penance and a life of prayer. As the time for His suffering and death drew near, he prayed that the cup of suffering should pass him by because His human nature recoiled at the thought of suffering. Yet, He added, “Not my will, Father, but your will be done” and He was strengthened for the task (Luke 24:43).

Have you discovered your purpose in life? If you have, are you walking in it? Do you find it very difficult to accept it? Do you find fulfillment in what you are doing? Christ prayed earnestly in order to fulfill his purpose on earth. Following His example, let us go to God, the author of our lives to discover His purpose for us and to receive the strength to carry it out. It is only in this that we will have true peace, joy and fulfillment in this world.

PRAYER: Father, help me to discover my purpose and grant me the grace to work towards it. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 1 – For what purpose are we here on earth?

We are here on earth in order to know and to love God, to do good according to his will, and to go someday to heaven.

HIDE A TREASURE: “I cry to God the Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.” Psalm 57: 2 RSV-CE

Today’s Reading: Acts 3:11-26; Psalm 8:2, 5-9; Luke 24:35-48

TRUE HAPPINESS

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Saturday 28th February – Saturday of the 1st week of Lent

Reflection: Psalm 118: 1-8

TRUE HAPPINESS

Tade was confused. She had made new friends during registration week on her new campus but as they settled down to work, she realised she was becoming more and more alone. All her friends had new boyfriends whom they were into sexual relationships with and were very excited about it as they had all the pleasure they wanted and money to throw around. Should I just join them and enjoy this new exciting life of theirs or should I keep up with my quest for holiness and remain lonely, missing out on all the fun? Tade wondered.

Many young people are familiar with Tade’s experience It is not unusual to find ourselves been lured by peers into immoral relationships, partying, drugs, exam malpractice etc. Those who engage in it are happy; why should I deny myself all the fun, we ask ourselves. Dear friend, true happiness is only found in living the life God our creator has called us to. The excitement sin offers is the devil’s way of luring us into sin; yet, the happiness sin offers is shallow, temporal and filled with regrets.

Do you desire pure and lasting happiness? Do you desire to live with peace of mind, devoid of regrets? God calls you today to a life of blessedness. “They are happy whose life is blameless, who follow God’s law! They are happy who do his will, seeking Him with all their hearts” (Ps 119: 1-2). Set your mind on pleasing God and ask for the grace to overcome the temptation around you. Have you already succumbed to the lure of Sin? Dear friend, it is not too late; repent, approach God in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and begin again. His grace is sufficient for you. Only in following God’s law would you find true happiness.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, please help me to seek true and lasting happiness in you. May I obey you in all I do and seek to please you always. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 407 – Why is the Church against premarital sexual relations?

Because she would like to protect love. A person can give someone else no greater gift than himself. “I love you” means for both: “I want only you, I want all that you are, and I want to give myself to you forever!” Because that is so, we cannot, even with our bodies, really say “I love you” temporarily or on a trial basis.

HIDE A TREASURE: “Blessed are they who treasure His word and seek Him with all their heart.” Psalm 119: 2 CCB

Today’s Readings: Deuteronomy 26: 16-19; Psalm 119: 1-8; Matthew 5: 43-48