Happiness

“I have never been happier.” (Pedro Ballester).

Pedro Ballester Meeting Pope Francis

I have recently read the story of a young man who was diagnosed with cancer at the age of eighteen.  When he had turned sixteen he felt a calling to live in a holy way and wished to accept the vocation of nummary in Opus Dei.  As a nummary this young man was choosing to live a celibate life within a community and out in the world living his faith in his day to day activities.  His name was Pedro Ballester.  On 13 January 2018, Pedro died.

Perhaps that could have been all of his story.  After all, many young people die of terrible diseases and accidents.  Many of them die after making plans and promises for the remainder of their lives.  And yet, for Pedro, there was so much between the diagnosis and death that he offered to God’s Plan for him…  During his three years of treatments, Pedro continued in his normal life as much as possible.  He attended university and met with friends.  The people around him began to visit him.  He did not turn anyone away.  Rather, he invited people in and spoke to them.  Pedro’s example of faith and his words of encouragement helped others to draw closer to God.

Pedro became a lamp that was not placed under a bushel…

“And He said to them, ‘Is a lamp brought in to be put under a bushel, or under a bed, and not on a stand? For there is nothing hid, except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret, except to come to light. If any man has ears to hear, let him hear.’ And He said to them, ‘Take heed what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you. For to him who has will more be given; and from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.’” (Mark 4:21-25).

And in living for Christ, Pedro did something that few of us are able to manage in this lifetime – he experienced joy.  Only a few weeks before he died (when he was very sick and suffering), one of his friends asked him if he was happy.  Pedro answered, “I have never been happier.” And I have been reflecting on that today…

For I wonder, in the muck of my everyday life, whether I would ever be able to say the same…

And that makes me think about what I am doing and who I am doing it for.  Am I offering my life to God or to my own goals and dreams and ambitions?  How can I bleed myself dry as God has done for me on the Cross?  How can I use up all the gifts He has given to me for HIS Holy Will?  How can I give when I do not want to give?  How can I please my Lord who suffered so much for me?

After all, having seems this example of this young man, it seems to me that such is the only way to happiness…

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.