Matthew 11
I believe most of us agree that the man lives for happiness. We make daily decisions for happiness, though unconsciously. People make very different decisions because what makes them happy is not always the same. Nevertheless, there are also many things people commonly pursue happiness – success, wealth, health, fame, power, etc. The trouble is, these promising goals for happiness often become the sources of misery.
If happiness were to be determined by external goals, only a small portion of humanity would enjoy happiness, because these goals suppose competition. When people are obsessed with those external goals, they practically become the slaves of their goals. Will there be an end to these pursuits for the external goals of happiness? I don’t have a billionaire friend to ask this question. But it seems there are not many billionaires who stop desiring for more.
Jesus declares today that he is gentle and humble in heart. He says this is why he can give us rest – especially to those who are weary and carry heavy burdens. He does not promise he will fulfill our goals on behalf of us. He does not promise us we can accomplish our goals if we come to him. What he suggests to us is to become like him – gentle and humble in heart. That is his yoke and his burden. He invites us to change our greedy and lustful hearts with his gentle and humble heart.
Happiness does not come from external achievement. Happy people are already happy with life because their hearts are gentle and humble. What God has already given are enough to make us happy – nature, our families, our daily bread. When our hearts are like Jesus’, we rather give thanks to God than ask for something better.
On this solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, let us see if our hearts resemble the heart of Jesus. We can choose our hearts full of desires and ambitions but empty of happiness. Or we can choose our heart full of thanksgiving and joy but empty of self-pity.
Unload all desires from your heart and walk up to our Lord with the empty heart. And take his yoke upon your heart – that gentleness and humility. And he will give you rest, and you will find true happiness in your heart.
