The Fullness of Life
By Fr. Florentino S. Lim

The fullness of life

Our Lord Jesus Christ said, “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full” (John 10.10). Thus, the title and the content of this new column: the Fullness of Life.

Together let us explore life to its fullness: its breadth, depth, height, and mysteries.  It is for this reason that Christ came into this world, in order that we may live and not die.

And whenever there is death, it should be a death to sin, to meaningless and empty life, to a sterile and pathetic life; death to the limitations that time and space impose upon life—and finally, an entry into eternal life, that lifelong goal “which eye has not seen nor ear has heard”, that Joy incomprehensible which will saturate every particle and every fiber of one’s being in a life without boundaries and without end.

Life per se is dynamic, it is passionate. It has ups and downs, its sad moments and moments of elations. Sometimes life can be dull, and at times full of excitements. It has dark moments, its pains and sorrows; it also has moments of light, of healing and of liberation. There are times of defeats and failures, and yet times also of victory and success. Sometimes it brings about the feeling of being so alone, unloved and consoled. In all of these, life must be lived, life’s challenges must be faced. For life is sweet and beautiful; it is mysterious and wonderful. Life is glorious—and the fullness of it comes from God!

“I came that you may have life and have it to the full.” This fullness of life which Jesus offers, comes to us only when we are open to the inbreaking of  God’s kingdom.
“Our Father in heaven, holy be your Name, your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” begins the prayer taught us by our dear Lord Jesus. Without openness to God’s rule over our life and without submission to His holy will, it is impossible to live our life to the full, for every drop and moment of life is a gift from above, from the Father who loves.

“Give us this day our daily Bread…” In ancient times when the people of God were liberated from Egypt, they had to trek through the scorching desert to the Promised Land. The heat and weariness from travel for days and the uncertainty of their destination must have worn out their patience so that they started to murmur and complain, “We ran out of food. How can we feed our little ones?” And heaven showered upon them Manna to eat, even without fail, for the forty years of their journey through the desert. Each day God fed them with Manna.

“I am the Bread of life… the Living Bread which comes down from heaven.” (Jn. 6:48; 50) Jesus, the One who offered the fullness of life, is the true Bread that we receive each new day from the Father. Every utterance and every aspect of His life adds richness, meaning and direction to our existence. “My Words are spirit and life,” He proclaimed. When the apostles were caught in a dilemma whether to leave or stay, Peter quickly responded, “Lord, to whom shall we go, You have the Words of eternal life” (Jn. 6:68)
Today, as we resolve to receive and live that fullness of life from the Lord, let us also drink from the wisdom of old, from a very ancient text which resonates with the life-giving Words of Jesus. This text is based on the Sanskrit which was written around 1200 B.C. Call it either “The Exhortation of the Dawn” or “The Salutation of the Dawn.”

Listen to the Exhortation of the Dawn!
Look to this day!
For it is Life, the very Life of Life.
In its brief course lie all the
Verities and Realities of your Existence:
The Bliss of Growth,
The Glory of Action,
The Splendor of Beauty,
For Yesterday is but a Dream,
And Tomorrow is only a Vision:
But Today well-lived makes
Every Yesterday a Dream of Happiness,
And every Tomorrow a Vision of Hope.
Look well therefore to this Day!
Such is the Salutation of the Dawn!