(Paul) proclaimed the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ. - Acts 28:31
What was the secret to Paul's purpose-driven life? In today's Book of the Acts, we see how this religious genius courageously established Christian communities throughout the eastern Mediterranean. Paul's life and letters shaped the history of Christian thought. The Emperor Nero eventually found this such a threat that he ordered Paul to be killed. Etched into Paul's vision of human beings were the words of Jesus: "I have come so that they may have life and have it more abundantly." For Paul, discipline leads to the fullness of life. Think about it. When we eat well, exercise, and rest regularly, we feel more fully alive physically. When we love, when we give priority to significant relationships, when we give of ourselves to be truly useful to others, we feel alive emotionally. When we study human achievements and marvels in various cultures, we feel alive intellectually. When we take time each day to come to God in prayer, humbly and openly, we experience more fully the transcendent spiritual dimension of life. Yes, all of these endeavors require discipline, which expands our world and sets us free for our ultimate purpose: eternal life with God.
What do these words mean to me: Christ is indeed "the way, the truth, and the life."
Lord Jesus, give me the grace to see you as "the way, the truth, and the life."
Reflection by:
Fr. Kevin Mackin, OFM
Did You Know...
Fr. Kevin E. Mackin, OFM, of St. Anthony Friary in St. Petersburg, has served in parish ministry and chaplaincy, and as a college president and professor. His articles and books include Enjoying God's Gifts; Get Thee Behind Me, Satan: Rejecting Evil; and Christian Unity: The Next Step 'That They May All Be One.' His website is afranciscanjourney.blogspot.com.
