Zechariah 9:9-10 / Romans 8:9, 11-13 / Matthew 11:25-30
When we think about what we really want in life, it is essentially about happiness that we are looking for.
Yes, we want to be happy in life, but we also know that happiness does not last long.
Happiness is like ice cream that is melting away in the hot weather. After a while, we only have memories of it.
So, we will try to prolong happiness and even try to make it a permanent feature in life.
So, we will strive to get a good educational qualification, so that we can get a good job and we think we will be happy.
We will also try to earn as much money as we can, so that we can buy our dream house, buy a nice car, and get whatever we think will make us happy in life.
And we will also try to make ourselves as comfortable as possible with financial securities for the future.
In short, when there are no worries, then we think we will be happy. That is what we think.
But life is like a series of worries and anxieties, and even ceaseless worries and anxieties.
We may want to get into the best schools, but we worry about the stress and pressure, and we get anxious about failures.
We get our dream house and then the roof leaks and cracks appear.
There is no need to elaborate about the fact that whatever can go wrong will go wrong.
But our worries and anxieties, as well as our desires and even our failures, reveal something to us about ourselves.
And that is our hearts don't seem to be contented, that we are not satisfied, no matter how little or how much we have.
And therefore, happiness is like fleeting moments in life, and we get weary and tired in our search for happiness.
In the midst of the occasional ups and numerous downs of life, the voice of God calls out to us.
He calls us to stop and be still, so that we can know that Jesus is looking at is.
But we can ignore. Yes, we can ignore physical pain and tiredness, until our body breaks down and can’t function properly.
We can also ignore the pains and burdens of our hearts, until we break down spiritually and become constantly angry and unhappy.
Today, Jesus calls out to us again as He says to us: Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
As we listen to the words of Jesus, we know that He is literally telling us to come to Him and to rest, to relax and to let go of our anxieties, our worries and our burdens.
And through little children, Jesus reveals something that is so important and necessary in our lives.
As we look at little children sleeping comfortably and soundly, they can do so because they know they are resting securely under the watchful care of their loving parents.
Jesus is our loving Saviour. We can always go to Him, whether in Church or in a quiet place, and find rest.
Even if we can’t pray, or don’t know how to pray, Jesus looks at us and watches over us.
And even if we end up sleeping, Jesus is pouring His healing love into our bodies, our minds and our hearts.
We just have to be quiet and be still, and we will know that God is our loving Father, and that Jesus is our Brother and Saviour.
Then we will know what happiness is.
Happiness is knowing that Jesus will save us from our troubles, our worries and our anxieties.
Happiness is being able to rest in the Heart of Jesus.
Little children are happy when they can rest securely in love.
Let us be like little children, and we will find happiness by resting in a saving love of Jesus.