The Sunday Sermon Archive

Dear Friend,

Again, our Holy Mother the Church places before us part of Our Lord's farewell address in today's Gospel for our consideration. The hearers of this address are saddened by Our Lord's words, but He tells us "It is expedient to you that I go."

It is expedient that we should have a mixture of joys and sorrows while we reside in this earth. Just as Jacob gave Joseph a variegated coat so God gives us a variegated life, interwoven with happy and unhappy events. Suffering and sorrows are much more beneficial to us than we can imagine when we cooperate with the grace of God. They are often better for us than earthly pleasures and joys.

Temporal happiness is truly contemptible when we consider its source. Where do precious stones and metals come from? They are formed in the earth. From what is fine clothing made? These come from the skin, wool, or fur of an animal or even the production of worms. Have we ever stopped to consider the source of the finest of foods that we eat? It all comes from contemptible sources. What of all the honors and dignities that the world offers? Are they not just like a vapor that vanishes soon after it appears? All the joys and pleasures that this world has to offer are far beneath the dignity of an immortal soul. They are so far distant that the saints would say that they are unworthy of all the value that the world places upon them.

King Solomon was in a position to have whatever he wanted in this world, and he repeatedly confesses in spite of all this, that he was not satisfied: "I saw in all things vanity and vexation of mind".

How wise and powerful was Alphonsus, king of Sicily, Naples and Arragon! No one seemed to be happier than he, and yet he said that asses are happier than kings, because they are unharnessed at least whilst they are fed, whilst kings have no rest.

When Charles V at Brussels resigned the empire in favor of his son, with tears in his eyes he confessed before the dignitaries of the state that during the whole period of his reign he had not had a quarter of an hour which he could say was spent joyfully.

King Antigonus assured his son that the royal dignity is nothing but glittering slavery, and if we knew with what cares and troubles royalty is surrounded, we should not wish for a crown.

What is commonly considered human happiness should be despised rather than sought after.

Some consider that a pious life is filled with sorrow and melancholy, but nothing could be farther from the truth. Pious Christians enjoy, even in sufferings and tribulations, interior joys and consolations, which have their foundation in a good conscience, in the grace of the Holy Ghost, and in the expectation of eternal beatitude. These joys and consolations are so great that they would not exchange them for all worldly joys and happiness.

When we compare all the pleasures and joys which men have tasted from the beginning of the world to the present day, with the felicity of the saints in Heaven, are they not more insignificant than a grain of sand compared with the whole earth? St. Augustine says: "This glory, this beauty, this majesty, which will be our felicity, surpasses our hope and love, our wishes and desires. This felicity may be acquired, but cannot be sufficiently appreciated: it can be merited, but not described."

St. Paul says: "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what things God hath prepared for them that love Him."

What is considered temporal happiness is, in reality, vain and perishable. We should learn to disdain everything which the world promises, such as honor and reputation, money and lands, joys and pleasures, and aspire with all our affections to heavenly and eternal goods. Let us follow the admonition of the Apostle: "Seek the things that are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Mind the things that are above, not the things that are on the earth."

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