REST

In a world that glorifies pleasure, speed, and self-satisfaction, many souls find themselves endlessly chasing after the next thrill, the next purchase, the next escape. This lifestyle of constant indulgence is known as hedonism—the belief that pleasure is the highest good and ultimate purpose of life. While the world presents this path as a form of freedom and happiness, the Gospel of Christ reveals something far deeper: true healing, peace, and joy are not found in pleasures, but in the person of Jesus. Hedonism is appealing because it offers instant gratification. Shopping, drinking, partying, traveling, or immersing oneself in worldly distractions can numb the pain for a while. But the soul is not satisfied by surface pleasures—it longs for something eternal, meaningful, and holy. Only Christ can touch the deepest wounds of the human heart. In today’s gospel Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” His invitation is not just to the religious or the righteous, but to the tired, broken, and lost. While hedonism masks the pain, Christ heals it from within. The problem with hedonism is that it offers pleasure without purpose, comfort without communion, escape without encounter. It treats the symptoms but not the root. In contrast, Jesus does not avoid our wounds—He enters them. His healing is not about escaping reality but transforming it with grace. His peace is not momentary relief but eternal rest. The Cross shows us that real joy often comes through sacrifice, not indulgence. And the Resurrection proves that love, not pleasure, is the true path to life. When we turn away from empty pleasures and turn toward the heart of Christ, we discover that we were made for more than this world—we were made for Him. So if your heart is tired, anxious, or restless, don’t run to distractions—run to Jesus. Malls, casinos, entertainment, and escapes may momentarily numb the ache, but they can never restore your soul. Only Jesus can do that. In His presence, we don’t just feel better—we become whole. The heart was not created for pleasure, but for love. And the only love that can truly satisfy is the love that flows from the Sacred Heart of Christ. Blessings Fr. Jhack

LITTLE ONES

July 16, 2025 Wednesday within the 16th week in Ordinary Time Year C Matthew 11:25–27 In today’s gospel, Jesus lifts His eyes to the Father and offers a prayer of praise—not for power or miracles, but for revelation given to the little ones. He thanks the Father for hiding divine truths from the wise and learned, and revealing them instead to the humble, the childlike, the open-hearted. This Gospel challenges our notions of greatness. God’s ways are not discovered through intellect alone, but through simplicity, humility, and trust. It is not how much we know, but how open we are to receiving God’s truth. There was a time I thought I needed to have everything figured out—to read more theology, to speak more eloquently, to master the mysteries. But along the way, I met simple people—farmers, lola rosary leaders, children receiving their First Communion—whose quiet, sincere faith moved me far more than any book. They knew little in the academic sense, yet somehow, they knew God more deeply than I did. Through them, God whispered to my soul: “Fr. Jhack, come to me as a child, not as a scholar.” Theological knowledge may explain doctrine, but it is encounter with Jesus that opens the heart to divine love. As a priest, I am reminded that the heart of ministry is not just teaching doctrines, but leading people to Jesus, so they may know the Father. In a world obsessed with success, credentials, and recognition, this Gospel calls us back to spiritual childhood—to be small before God, teachable in His presence, and grateful for every grace revealed to the humble. May we never become so “learned” in ministry that we forget how to be little in prayer. Blessings Fr. Jhack