The Secret to Contentment

“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” These famous words are those of St Augustine Bishop of Hippo whose early life could be described as immoral and hedonistic and who later became a very famous Christian bishop, author and theologian. Its meaning is simple, we are made for God and we will be restless, confused and lost until we find our rest in our maker.

As we end 2019 and begin a new year, it is always useful to reflect on the year that has passed and look forward to the new year with all the joy and hope that it brings. Sometimes we find that we are hungry for more, maybe something is missing, possibly a certain peace and contentment.

Some define contentment as “to be free from care because of satisfaction with what is already one’s own” others define it as “a state of mind in which one’s desires are confined to whatever his/her lot may be”.

One of the most quoted verses on contentment is found in Philippians chapter 4

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Phil 4:11-13 (ESV)

There is a beautiful liturgical text that speaks about contentment found in the prayer after the distribution prayed by the priest at the end of the Divine Liturgy of St Cyril ( said when the priest places the paten on his head, the prayer is usually prayed inaudibly, some priests pray it out loud)

You are He, O Lord, with whom we have laid our life. O Lord, who fills all, guard us in every place where we shall go. And the compunction that has become ours through prayer, and the contentment of heart of upright living, guard them for us, unstolen and without regret, so that- at every time and in every place of Your dominion, as we are looking toward You, and following after that which pleases You, and that which You desire- we may not be put to shame on the Day of righteous judgement…” – Section from The Prayer of the Laying-on of the Hands After the Distribution of the Holy Mysteries, Liturgy of St Cyril

You would notice the words in bold above, “And the compunction that has become ours through prayer, and the contentment of heart of upright living, guard them for us, unstolen and without regret”. What has brought about this contentment of heart? The Eucharist ! We have just received the most precious and life giving medicine of immortality, the Body and Blood of our Saviour. What more precious gift can be given to mankind but the very Flesh and Blood of the Incarnate Word of God. Even though while we were sinners, He has made us worthy to partake of these Holies unto the purification of our souls, bodies and spirits. He has made us worthy to stand in His holy place and to lift up our hands in prayer.

Through these prayers, the church makes clear the secret to contentment- the Eucharist. When we receive Christ Himself, what more do we want or need in life?

St Cyril of Alexandria in his 10th sermon on the Mystical Supper captures this beautifully when he says:

“ Together let us hasten to the Mystical supper. Today Christ feasts us, today Christ serves us, Christ, the Love-of-Mankind, refreshes us!... The Creator offers Himself to the creature for his enjoyment! Life itself bestows Himself on mortals for their food and drink!...eat the Life that does not fail; for this have I come, that you may have life, and jave it more abundantly (Jn 10:10)

The secret to living a life of contentment is Eucharistic living- partaking of the Eucharist and living out the Eucharist through our daily lives. Let this be our focus in 2020.