Homily for Sunday, September 19, 2021

There is an internal tension in most of us, an angst. We want things we cannot have. Or what we have is never enough, we want more. Many world religions have recognized this angst. For example, Buddhism refers to tanha, or roughly translated “desire” as something that explains why life is suffering. We think if we just get this job, or that house, or this new gadget, we would be happy. Or, if we could just overcome this disease, or not have that coworker, or not have this annoying neighbor, we could be happy. But without humility, that radical honesty about who we are and what we need, we are left suffering. It is only when we recognize that only Jesus fulfills all we want or need that we are truly happy and fulfilled.

Given at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, University City, Missouri.

There is an internal tension in most of us, an angst. We want things we cannot have. Or what we have is never enough, we want more. Many world religions have recognized this angst. For example, Buddhism refers to tanha, or roughly translated “desire” as something that explains why life is suffering. We think if we just get this job, or that house, or this new gadget, we would be happy. Or, if we could just overcome this disease, or not have that coworker, or not have this annoying neighbor, we could be happy. But without humility, that radical honesty about who we are and what we need, we are left suffering. It is only when we recognize that only Jesus fulfills all we want or need that we are truly happy and fulfilled.

Readings for Today