In our Gospel reading today from Mark, Jesus goes off to a deserted place to pray. Simon and some others go on the hunt for Him and when Simon finds Him, he says, “Everybody is looking for you.”
I got stuck on this statement from Simon. Is everybody looking for Jesus in this day and age?
At first, I said to myself, “Nah, they aren’t. It’s sad, but I don’t think everybody is.”
Then, I started thinking about it more and I changed my mind.
Too many people think that just finding whatever makes you happy is the recipe for a good life. Many people think that Christianity should just only ever make you happy. In a way, it should entertain us, offer zero resistance to what we want to do.
In this pursuit of happiness as the highest goal in life, we see all kinds of sins excused, encouraged, and celebrated. Because, hey, if it makes you happy…surely Jesus would be fine with it.
What people are trying to seek, though, at their core is fulfillment. Things that make us happy, if even for a bit, give the illusion that we’ve found what fulfills us.
What we are really looking for is Christ, even if we don’t know it.
So, yes, everybody is looking for Christ, for true fulfillment.
In our mixed up world, we think fulfillment can be found in just the things that make us happy. But, Christ didn’t come to just make us happy. He came to transform our lives and make them holy, which is where true fulfillment and joy are found, Catholic Pilgrims.
Live the Faith boldly and travel well this Wednesday.
