06th in Luke OCALA 10/23/05           

"I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere, and in all things, I am instructed, both to be full, and to be hungry; both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ, Who strengthens me." Philippians 4:11-13

How profound these two verses are from St. Paul's Epistle to the Philippians! Just the other day, reading this Epistle, I paused when I came across these two verses., and brought thoughts to my mind, of the great flexibility, and adaptability of this greatest of all Apostles, --- and how in conclusion he stated, that he can do all things through Christ, Who gave him the necessary strength.

Meditating on these two verses, I was thinking, and wondering, why is it, that we as Christians, do not think along parallel lines with St. Paul, so as to achieve what we all desire? --- Happiness and fulfillment! Then I thought; instead of basing my homily today on today's Gospel lesson, read every year about this time, I would prepare myself to share some thoughts with you today on the verses of St. Paul. Of course my hope is, that these words find a dominant place in our hearts and minds, so that we can strongly sense the contentment, which all people desire.

How beautiful life would be, and how fulfilled we would be, if only we heeded St. Paul's words. They emphasize contentment. And who is the person in this life, who does not truly desire contentment? Happiness, and contentment! The goal of any reasonable person in life. Happiness and contentment. We all desire to achieve these two superb qualities, but it seems, that we do not take the proper route to pursue the true happiness and contentment.

But, a natural question arises: do we all have the same conception of what true happiness is? Situations and conditions prove, that we do not.

I remember vividly my discussion some years ago with one of the College students from my former Parish. I asked him, if he was enjoying his studies, which would naturally prepare him for the profession he had chosen.

His answer was lukewarm; but he was sure of one thing. He had chosen a field, in which, even mediocrities make a lot of money! This told me, that his chosen profession and the superficial service he would render, was not his objective in life, but making lots of money was. This drove him to convince himself, that thus his happiness and independence would be secured!

I was so sorry to hear him say that, and I made every attempt to convince him, that primarily his work should be fulfilling to him, and that money would come as a consequence thereof. Money alone, could never give him the desired contentment and happiness.

But, --- we all know how such advice is usually, not taken, --­especially, when a person has concrete pre-conceived notions, or ideas. Truly, I felt sorry for him. I knew he would make money easier than most working people, for services poorly, --- or rather, routinely rendered. I felt, that his life would always have a great void, --- simply because, it was purely materialistic.

Was this young man perhaps an exception? By no means. Our society unfortunately, is firmly geared to money and acquisition; and people just do not take the time to see, if they are heading in the right direction toward the happiness and contentment they have envisioned.

People must come to understand the reality, that happiness sources mainly from the spiritual and mental qualities of contentment, under girded by confidence, serenity, good will, and no less from the strength from God, as St. Paul recognized it.

The formula for happiness, cannot be given in any single word or phrase; because, its many virtues have to combine in their proper quantities, --- at the proper times, --- and for the proper purposes. Happiness may even include the pain of losing, --- and oftentimes of suffering to a great degree.

We surely have learned this from the lives of the Saints and from the great people, who have left a legacy on this earth, having sacrificed themselves for some great cause!

Contentment thrives in a busy life. I'm sure we have occasion to witness this from friends and family. The men and women recorded in history and biographies as the happiest, were people with something more to accomplish, than they could possibly bring to pass. Every waking hour of their lives was occupied with ambitious projects, -- with philanthropy, -­- literature, --- politics,--- science,--- various professions, --- trades, --- and countless other endeavors, all based on their religious faith.

Great people, who left a legacy, must have been happy at their achievements, and consequently, they must have felt a great measure of contentment. Happiness,* is the sweet fruit of contentment.

We are not born with contentment. Rather, it is acquired through great resolve and diligence to discipline oneself, so as to overcome and nullify unruly desires. This is taught firstly in the home from the child's tender years.

However, comparatively few people are able to become masters over themselves! Consequently, they sense discontentment. They are discontented because, they permit their egotism to become the axis, around which every one else must revolve!  They are discontented, because they permit envy to give them a feeling, that the talents of others were stolen from them. They are discontented, because of covetousness, which makes them to always want more, simply because their hearts are empty. They are discontented, because of jealousy, seeing other people have that, which they think belongs to them.

Contentment then, which is a veritable guarantee for happiness, does not come from the externals, --- from things that we acquire. Was it not the Lord Who stated emphatically, "of what benefit would it be to a person, if he gained the whole world, at the cost of losing his own soul?"

No, dear Friends; contentment is a quality of the soul, and always sources from within the soul. Great philosophers like Plato, who I would say was God-inspired, came forth with truisms like: "Instead of increasing your needs, see to it, that you limit your desires!            Would you

not agree that this is a formula for happiness and contentment?            I'm sure we all know families which have been destroyed by the salacious desires, which constitute an endless chain!

Unfortunately, so many people resemble the little boy, who only wanted some marbles. That's all he wanted, and acquiring them would make him completely happy! Soon after, he wanted a basketball, and this time he would be again completely happy. That would be it. But, soon after that he wanted a bike, and his desires in succession, became an endless list. Aren't so many grown ups like this little boy? They just can't seem to get all, which they desire to acquire, simply because, they keep constantly increasing their goals.

These people just do not realize, that the materialistic road is an endless one, which perhaps may bring perhaps some temporary happiness. But, if left uncontrolled, it will surely guarantee them, not only unhappiness and discontentment, but complete catastrophe.

Discontentment is a terrible affliction of the mind and the soul. Trying to make a discontented person happy, is something like trying to fill a sieve with water; -- indeed a most futile and endless undertaking.

Some may even think that contentment can come from a change of places, or positions! But again, we have to relate to the boy, who initially would be happy, only if he had some marbles.

How then, can we sense contentment? Firstly, by having a strong and unfailing faith; -- that is, to know the purpose of life, --- to be true to ourselves and our commitments, -- and to believe, that no matter how serious the trials of today are, they come for some ultimate purpose by a loving Father, -- God. We must never forget, that God never gives a trial, greater than the power for a person to sustain the trial.

In St. Paul's Epistle to the Hebrews we read as follows: "Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with such things as you have. For God has said: 'I will never leave you, nor forsake you.' So it is, that we may boldly say: 'The Lord is my helper, I will not fear; what then can man do to me?' " Hebrews 13:5-6

To be contented, we must also have a clear conscience. If the inner self is guilty, because of moral failures, no external thing can ever give rest to our spirit.

In the Book of Proverbs, Chapter 16, verse 8, we learn that "Better is a little, with righteousness, than great revenues without right."

In the Book of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 5, verse 12, we have another edifying statement: "The sleep of an honest laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the abundance of the rich, will not permit him to sleep."

Still further, -- to be contented we must mortify our desires and limit our delights! What we over-love, many times we over-grieve. All trials in life can become lighter, if we endure them with patience.            The anxieties of life are many, to be sure, without our having to add to these unnecessarily.

Let us understand it properly. Contentment is a relative state, and is not absolute. A person, who does not have much, can be contented.            This though, does not mean that he should not work to deliver himself or herself from his or her state.            If this move is successful, again this person can maintain contentment.

Abraham Lincoln once said, that "a man is as happy and contented, as he makes up his mind to be." How very true!

Fanny Cosby, the blind hymn writer used to say repeatedly: "Do not waste any sympathy on me. I am the happiest person living!" The eyes of her body were blind, but the eyes of her soul could see, ever so brightly. Cosby had found real contentment. She had acquired one of life's greatest treasures, --- contentment.

In closing, my beloved Friends, I would like to emphasize, that a contented person is never poor, though he or she may have little of the material things of this world; and a discontented person can never be happy and fulfilled, though he or she may possess the many riches of this world. Amen.

+ Fr. George Papadeas