
HAPPINESS
I repeat, there is no true
happiness except in self-giving done out of love. “It is more
blessed to give than to receive,” Jesus said (Acts 20:35).
— Called to Life, p.91
This
is a fundamental spiritual principle, found in the
Gospel. Jesus speaks these mysterious words: “I tell you, that to every one who has will more be given; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away” (Lk 19:26).
In
this way he proclaims one of the most important laws
of life. Someone filled with resentment and unhappiness, bitter
that life is not as it should be, will be deeply
disillusioned. On the other hand, people who are
glad for what they have received, and thank God for what
befalls them will receive still more, until finally being overwhelmed by God’s
generosity.
— Called to Life, p.87
Learning to love means seeing
ever more clearly that the fundamental spiritual
attitude—and paradoxically the most
difficult—is openness to receiving. It is fundamental
because it is God who loves us first. It is difficult
because it requires us to have much confidence and humility, and to let
ourselves be loved.
— Called to Life, p.94