Remember the song, “I can’t get no satisfaction. I can’t get no satisfaction. I tried and I tried, and I tried.“ It is sad, but not uncommon that in our world of abundance that many people have everything they want in the way of material things, education, relationships, power, and popularity, yet are not happy. If you listen to advertisers, as most of us do if you watch much television, the underlying message is always the same. If you buy this product, you will be happier, healthier, and more satisfied. It never works, because we seem to always want more. How many times have I had to have something, bought it, was happy with it for a little while, and then what. I had to get more. It seems as though we are never happy, never satisfied.
How fortunate we are to have a long history of saints who show us a better way. These men and women, who had every advantage, wealthy, powerful, and popular, who discovered that no matter how much they had, they couldn’t find happiness and satisfaction. I am also reminded of Sidhartha, the founder of Buddhism, who was of royal decent, who gave it all up to live in poverty. All riches and advantages of this world, he discovered, would not bring him enlightenment. They could not fill the deepest longing in his being.
I apologize in advance for not writing about women saints, I just don’t know them well. St. Agustine, had wealth, prestige, education, women, and all the world had to offer. Yet, until he discovered God, he was unhappy. He wrote, “Only in God will my soul be at rest.” St, Francis of Assisi, the son of a wealthy cloth merchant, gave it all up to follow Jesus. He founded the Franciscan Order. Before he died, he received the wounds of Jesus, the stigmata. St. Ignatius of Loyola, the son of wealth and pursuer of all things pleasurable, wounded in battle, discovered that the only true joy and happiness were in Jesus. He founded the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits.
Most of us are not children of wealth or prestige. Yet I think most of us would like to try it sometime. Who has not fantasized about being the hero, having great wealth, popularity, and being powerful? Even if it isn’t realistic. Yet, all of us are called to be saints. A personal relationship with Jesus, God, is open to all of us, regardless of gender, status, race, age, wealth, and health. If anything, the things of the world just get in the way. I am grateful that I have none of these things. I am glad that I am not a Donald Trump, or Pope Leo, or Oprah. Only one thing is truly satisfying, Jesus. All the love and satisfaction we experience in this life is a prelude to being together with Jesus in heaven. Hope to see you there. “Jesus, let me love you always. Then do with me as you will.”
“May the Lord bless and keep you. May he let his face shine upon you, be gracious to you and give you his peace.”
