Was Jesus happy?

Aren’t we supposed to be living the American dream? You know, money on hand, white picket fence, friends and family all happy and doing well?

We don’t have it, do we? Our own suffering and that of others pounds on our consciences and questions our understanding of this American dream. We can try to ignore that tumult, but it isn’t going away.

We’re misunderstanding Jesus. We make the mistake of thinking His life was the exception. He came to suffer and die so we could get to heaven. He suffered so we wouldn’t have to. Somehow that idea slipped in.

What if Jesus’ life, His dying, His rising has another, and even more vital message? What if His life is a template for us to follow?

Oh, no, no, no. We don’t want that! Jesus didn’t live for the white picket fence. Jesus lived for truth. Every thought, every word, every act was toward truth. We’re not to imitate that — are we?

We already are! Jesus hurt. We hurt. Jesus faced an uphill battle. We face uphill battles. We might as well see what imitating Him as best we can brings about, both within and around us.

We not only make the mistake of thinking Jesus doesn’t expect us to follow Him, but we make the mistake of thinking Jesus wasn’t happy living as He did. He wasn’t at peace. He didn’t live life to the fullest. Following Him is for the saints, the special ones called to do so, the somber ones, right?

What if that’s not right?

Reflection

Was Jesus happy? Did He live life to the fullest? Are we missing something by thinking trying to imitate Jesus is too hard, too boring, too … somber?

Prayer

Dear Jesus, You dreaded coming here, right? After all, You were rejected and killed. And yet people wanted to be around You. People hung on your every word. People changed their lives to be like You. That doesn’t sound like you lived in dread. Show me what I’m missing, Lord. What is it that filled You, motivated You, got You up every morning even as You saw the pain and suffering all around You?

More on this to follow…