“Bring joy to your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.” -Psalm 86:4

Happiness means living the good life or, according to Aristotle, “human flourishing.” St. Irenaeus, a church father, said, “The glory of God is man fully alive.” This is what real happiness means.

Many of us think of happiness as pleasure. We think that if we do well in our jobs, or make money, or if our relationships are good, we’ll be happy. Though there may be moments of pleasure and happiness in the midst of that, happiness is actually a good life – a life that follows Christ and is how Christ taught us to live.

So, happiness is the flourishing of the human soul – a life that glows, that is truly living! That’s happiness! And this happiness that is offered by God is available to all of us if we would simply realize that the kingdom of the heavens, that the teachings of Christ and his presence, are available at all times.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, you are my source of joy and happiness. I am your servant. To you, I lift up my soul. Amen.

REFLECTION: What joy-filled and happy ways have you found to stay connected to a positive faith in your loving Savior?