When We Live Life to the Fullest, We are Loving God to the Fullest!

Jesus loved us so much that he spoke these wonderful words, “I have come so that they may have life and have it more abundantly.” These words reminded me how Jesus always wants creation to have the best of everything. It is as if Jesus is saying, Only do it if you can give it your best shot and I will help you. I’ll help give you the fullest life possible.

 As Saint Benedict wrote: “If you notice something good in yourself, give the credit to God.”

 Another thing that gives every person faith and courage is how Jesus dislikes sin, but not sinners. Isn’t Jesus always inviting himself to sinner’s homes or asking them to follow him? I find this encouraging, and so should we all as we try to follow Jesus on our paths through the years of our lives.

 We are just not perfect. We stumble and fall more than we like. However, Jesus stays with us because Jesus sees more than we do. We often see what’s impossible, while Jesus lingers on what is possible!

 Jesus assists us in living life to the fullest in three different ways. First, He takes away the burden of sin. Secondly, He shows us how much God the Father absolutely loves us, and thirdly, Jesus invites us to follow Him all the way home to His Father’s house.

 When we understand what these three things mean for our salvation, we are living life to the fullest.

 We can start believing this in this present moment, right now on our life’s journey until we arrive at our true home in heaven. Jesus wants our journey to be about changing, transforming, and becoming more than we are at any given moment.

 If we stand still on our journey, we will not have abundance, only inertia. If we see our fellow travelers as strangers, and make no attempt to know, understand, or love them, then we have not moved. We may be taking external steps, but there is not movement in our hearts.

 To live life to the fullest we need to see God in others. We must remember that our fellow pilgrims are made in God’s image and likeness and not ours.

 This is a difficult lesson to learn, especially as we listen to our politicians speak of their opponents. However, Jesus is not suggesting, Jesus is commanding us.

Saint John The Evangelist wrote, “If we say we love God and hate our neighbor. We are liars.” That’s strong wording from a loving and compassionate disciple. Even though Jesus is preaching to persons who are deaf to his words, while strangers and foreigners embrace them, Jesus doesn’t walk away disgruntled. Remember he even preached this message from the cross: “Father forgives them, for they know not what they do.”

Jesus came so that we can have life to the fullest. It is a gift, freely given; we simply must choose to go in that direction. Remember, if we do it one day at a time and if we do it each day of our journey, then on our last day we will have done it for a lifetime.

And through it all, we will have had life to the fullest. Doesn’t that make you want to begin living life to the fullest this very day? Alleluia!

There is but one kind of ambition, loving God as a reward for his loving us… and love God more! Saint Ignatius Loyola