Happy Algorithm
This 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A, teaches us that the path to be happy lies in detaching ourselves from worldly attachments and drawing closer to Christ.
SUNDAY HOMILY 2026SUNDAY MASS TODAY
Fr. Fred Wekesa, OSA
1/28/20264 min read
The Happiness Algorithm
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First Reading: Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13 "Seek the Lord, all you humble of the earth..."
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 146 "Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!"
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 "God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise..."
Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12a "The Sermon on the Mount – The Beatitudes"
Introduction
In this year 2026. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has redefined how we work, how we learn, and how we talk. It can predict your next purchase, write your emails, and curate your entertainment. We carry the world in our pockets, yet we have never felt more isolated. Ask yourself this: In a world of infinite digital connections, are we losing touch with what makes us happy as human beings?
We often fall into the "Sunday Only" trap. We keep God in a one-hour box on the weekend, behaving like Christians in the pew, but living like atheists in the cloud. The other 167 hours of our week are run by the "algorithms of the world": the algorithm of anxiety, the algorithm of comparison, and the relentless chase for digital dopamine. We are "connected," yet we face unprecedented division and a restless search for peace.
As St. Augustine famously prayed in The Confessions, "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you." Indeed, no software update, no viral video, and no amount of "likes" can fix a restless soul.
But there is an ancient source code for happiness. It’s not a life-hack; it’s the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes are a series of blessings spoken by Jesus at the opening of the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew (Chapter 5, verses 3-12). They are 8 beatitudes, however, the 9th one is simply an expansion of the 8th Beatitude.
Beatitudes come from the Latin word beatus, meaning "blessed" or "happy." They are often described as a self-portrait of Christ and a blueprint for Christian discipleship, flipping the world's standard of happiness upside down.
The Beatitudes are Christ’s "Happiness Algorithm." In Matthew’s Gospel today, Jesus climbs the mountain as the new Moses delivering the new Law and gives us a blueprint that flips the world’s logic upside down. He begins with a shock: "Blessed are the poor in spirit."
The Humility Advantage: Deleting the Ego
What does "poor in spirit" look like in this digital age? It is not about destitution; it is about detachment. In 2026, we are conditioned to build our personal brand. We curate our lives on Instagram and TikTok to look successful, happy, and perfect. We scroll through feed after feed, seeing other people's vacations, promotions, and perfect families, and a quiet misery sets in. We feel poor because we don't have that.
But the ancient Stoic philosopher Seneca rightly said, "It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor."
To be "poor in spirit" today is to delete the ego. It is the power of letting go of the need to be impressive.
Example: It is the freedom to post a photo without checking five minutes later to see who "liked" it.
Example: It is the courage to admit, "I don't know," in an era where everyone pretends to be an expert.
Example: It is realizing that your worth is not found in your follower count, but in the fact that you are known and loved by God.
St. Augustine taught that "Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues." He asked, "Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending." Without humility, our spiritual life is just building castles in the cloud—impressive from a distance, but empty inside.
The Strength of Meekness: The Quiet Revolution
Jesus continues: "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land."
If you look at the internet, "meekness" seems like a losing strategy. The internet screams. It rewards aggression, "hot takes," and outrage. The algorithm pushes the angriest voices to the top of your feed. We are told that to be heard, we must shout.
But Jesus redefines power. Meekness is not weakness; it is strength under control. It is the sword that stays in the sheath not because the warrior is afraid, but because he is disciplined.
The Comment Section Test: When you read something online that makes your blood boil, the world says: "Attack! Destroy them with a clever comeback!" Meekness says: "Pause. Pray for them. Scroll on."
The Group Chat Dynamic: When a misunderstanding happens in a WhatsApp group, the world says: "Defend yourself." Meekness says: "Seek to understand before being understood."
This is the quiet revolution. In a noisy world, the person who remains calm is the one who actually holds the power. They "inherit the land" because they are the only ones left standing when the storms of anger pass.
Challenge for the Week: Live the Blueprint
This week, I challenge you. Don't just attend Mass and go back to the default settings of the world. Live the Blueprint.
The Notification Fast: Every day this week, turn your phone on "Do Not Disturb" from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Use that hour to talk to your family or sit in silence with God. That is practicing "poverty of spirit"—declaring that you don't need to be constantly connected to be okay.
Digital Tithing: For every hour you spend on entertainment, give 10 minutes to Scripture.
The Meekness Pause: Before you send a text or email while frustrated, wait 20 minutes. Ask yourself: "Does this bring peace, or does it just add to the noise?"
The Beatitudes aren't just for Sunday. They are your daily path to a joy that no algorithm can replicate, and a peace that the world cannot give.
"Blessed are you." Not because you are perfect, but because you are His. Amen.
Have a blessed Sunday!!!!