Paul Miki is not a name that is familiar to many of us. Paul was one of twenty-six martyrs of Japan who were crucified several centuries ago on a hill in Nagasaki, Japan, now known as the Holy Mountain. As he was hanging on the cross Paul did two extraordinary things. First he followed the example of Jesus on the cross and publicly forgave the people who crucified him. The second remarkable thing is that he told his followers as he was dying, "Ask Christ to help you become happy."

In all the sermons and homilies I’ve heard through the years, I’ve been told to pray for many things but I’ve never been told to pray for happiness. However, I can see Saint Paul Miki’s wisdom that holiness and happiness go together.

When I reflect on what makes us happy, it seems that we’re happy when we’re being most fully human and that, after all, is what God created us to be — fully human. Jesus Christ came to show us just how to be fully human, as he truly was. Like Jesus, being happy, being fully human isn’t about prestige or wealth and comfort. It is about the internal peace and joy and integrity that come from living a life in which we take responsibility for two things: caring for ourselves and caring for others.

So we need, first of all, to respect ourselves enough to do what keeps us physically and psychologically healthy. Our body is the temple, the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. As such it is as sacred as St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, or any church where we believe God dwells. Doing all we can to respect this temple and keep it healthy is our responsibility.

Furthermore we cannot be happy if we care only for ourselves. We are called as human beings and as Christians to look around us and care for others in whatever ways we can. We do this as individuals, as a parish community, a city, a nation. When we do these two things: respect and care for ourselves and respect and care for each other, we are doing God’s will. Then we are fully human and we are happy.

So perhaps we would do well to start each day and pray as Saint Paul Miki did, forgiving those who have hurt us in any way and by asking Christ to help us be happy.

Jean Marie Hiesberger