In the movie “The Greatest Showman,” the popular ballad “Never Enough,” sung by the Swedish character, Jenny Lind, captures the restless longing of the human heart. The song suggests that all the fame, wealth, applause, and success in the world are ultimately meaningless without the presence of the one whom the person truly desires, whether a loved one, or God.

Like the song suggests, the human heart is a bottomless pit that can never be filled unless it is filled by God alone. Otherwise, we allow our self-indulgent passions and desires (cf Gal 5:24) to rule us, causing us to neglect justice and the love of God (cf Lk 11:42).

The same danger exists even for those who desire to follow Christ. As St Teresa of Jesus reminds us, “Prayer and comfortable living are incompatible.” When comfort and security become our priorities, our hearts gradually grow insensitive to the sufferings of others. Instead of carrying one another’s burdens, we may end up adding to them.

Hence, St Paul reminds us that those who belong to Christ have to “crucify all self-indulgent passions and desires” (Gal 5:24). Only when God alone becomes our “all,” then will we bear the true fruits of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control” (cf Gal 5:22–23).