02/01/2026 8:30am Mass for the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish

Permission to reprint, podcast, and/or stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #A-719665. All rights reserved. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/reading... Many people dream of becoming rich, thinking that money will make them happy. But experience teaches us that riches do not guarantee true joy. Wealth can come and go, and it cannot fill the deepest hunger of the human heart. Instead of searching for quick success or easy happiness, Jesus invites us to follow a different path—the path of the Beatitudes. The word beatitude comes from a Latin word that means “happiness.” In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus repeatedly says, “Blessed” or “Happy.” Yet His words sound strange to the world. How can the poor be happy? How can those who mourn feel blessed? Jesus’ message turns worldly thinking upside down. St. Paul helps us understand this. He reminds us that God’s wisdom is not the world’s wisdom. God often chooses what seems weak, small, or foolish in the eyes of the world to show His power and glory. This teaches us not to judge Jesus’ words by worldly standards, but to see them with the eyes of faith. The Beatitudes do not speak about happiness as comfort, pleasure, or success. They speak about happiness that comes from God. True happiness is found in God alone. While we are still living in this world, we cannot fully possess God. Yet Jesus tells us that we can already begin to taste real joy when we live according to His teachings. At the heart of the Beatitudes is this simple truth: only God truly matters. Blessed John Henry Newman said that the thought of God alone is the happiness of the human person. The prophet Jeremiah also reminds us, “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord.” The Beatitudes call us to loosen our grip on worldly things and grow closer to God. Why are the poor in spirit happy? Because they do not depend on money, power, or possessions. They trust in God alone. Since their security comes from God, they are free from constant worry and fear. Why are those who mourn happy? They see the pain and suffering in the world and do not ignore it. They have compassionate hearts and stand with those who suffer. They believe that suffering is not the end, and they look forward to the eternal joy God promises. This hope gives them strength and peace. Why are the meek happy? Meekness does not mean weakness. It means humility and trust in God. The meek person depends on God’s strength, not on selfish ambition. He seeks to do God’s will with a gentle and humble heart. Why are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness happy? Deep inside, every human heart long for God. When we desire holiness and goodness, we draw closer to God, who alone can satisfy us. This longing itself brings joy. Why are the merciful happy? Mercy is love shown to those who fail or fall. When we show mercy, we imitate God Himself. And Jesus promises that those who are merciful will receive mercy. Knowing that God forgives us brings deep joy to our hearts. Why are the pure of heart happy? Their hearts are focused on God. They are not distracted by selfish desires. They want what God wants. As the saints remind us, a heart that is centered on God finds true joy. Why are peacemakers happy? The world is filled with anger, division, and violence. Peacemakers know they are instruments of God’s peace. When they help heal wounds and restore relationships, their hearts are filled with quiet joy. Why are those who are persecuted happy? They suffer because they belong to Christ. Their suffering shows that their lives reflect Jesus. Like St. Paul, they find joy not in avoiding hardship, but in knowing that Christ is close to them. God wants us to be truly happy—now and forever. The Beatitudes guide us toward that happiness by turning our hearts toward God. As St. Augustine beautifully said, “The pursuit of God is the desire for happiness; the attainment of God is happiness itself.