If you were to ask the average person for the reasons why they are happy, they'd probably give you a list of the things they have: a house, a family, health, food on the table etc. All great things. Now imagine if all those things listed was suddenly gone. Would that person still be happy? Yet for St. Paul in the second reading at Mass, he commands Christians with the utmost urgency, "Rejoice always... give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you..." (1 Thessalonians 6:16-18). He does not say rejoice only when things are well. He says "in ALL circumstances" (emphasis added). When life knocks the wind of out of us, we rejoice. When life stomps on our face, we rejoice. The Christian understands that even if all stripped away, so long as we have a living, heart-throbbing relationship with Jesus Christ, we are the richest people on earth.