Saturday, December 6, 2008

HEDONISM OR LIFE ABUNDANT


'...and you shall have life and have it abundantly ...'

In this most material of ages, perhaps since the Roman Empire, having life abundantly can be experienced, it seems, as modern day hedonists.  The Oxford Dictionary states that hedonism is: the ethical theory that pleasure ( in the satisfaction of desires) is the highest good and proper aim of human life ...

Read that: The satisfaction of desires is the highest good and (aim) of human life.  Now, as nun, that is alarmingly frightening.  Unless, of course, the desire is qualified.  If, the desire is helping neighbor, assisting the poor and vulnerable, visiting the imprisoned, clothing the naked; loving the unlovable; then, that form of hedonism would line up with 'having life abundantly' and would synchronize.   However, to have it qualified as self-serving and self-driven entirely; well, that is a problem, I sense.

We live in Communion.  We live in Community.  According to Gospel dictates,  we are at the service of Christ through others, in others, and with others.  To obtain wealth for the mere sake of pleasing our outlandish needs and desires, falling then into that realm of today's hedonistic proclivities is a counter-Christ message of loving the other to simply love the other.  

I ponder my desires, my needs and some don't fall into that radicalism of Jesus' offering of not hedonism for the sake of Self; but, instead, the abundancy of giftedness given for Neighbor. This gift to Neighbor always transfigures into gift unto self in forms of Joy; in forms of happiness; and in forms of deep, abiding, interior peace.


3 comments:

Charlotte Thérèse said...

You have just received a blog award (see a few comments about it in English within the posting):

http://katolskakyrkan.blogspot.com/2008/12/jag-har-en-utmrkt-blogg.html

:-)

Blessings,
Charlotte

House Dreams said...

Pleasure alone certainly cannot fill us up.

I must admit, family (dear cousin) and friends and gifts do bring enjoyment, but Christmas' joy is for the gift of God's Son!

Sister Mary Paul said...

Amen, Cousin.

Christmas Joy is the Son of God/ Well put, cousin.