I am the gate. Whoever enters through Me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly” (Jn 10: 9–10). This self-presentation of Jesus is one of the most fascinating and inspiring. Who of us doesn’t crave for an “abundant life,” a happy life? Isn’t that the permanent aspiration that springs from the depths of our hearts? It’s like an inner impulse, a thirst for the infinite that nothing or no one can erase.
It is easy to recognize the origin of this profound longing: it is God’s stamp in our hearts, created in His image and likeness. It is the unmistakable characteristic of human beings, oriented to the infinite. Every human being aspires to the fullness of life – his call and destiny.
God cannot but give in abundance and, therefore, seeks men and women capable of great desires and profound aspirations. Jesus comes to awaken in us such a yearning: “I have come to set the earth on fire” (Lk 12:49). His is a proposal, a promise.
It is the mission of the Good Shepherd: “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” This word “abundance,” perisson in Greek, means beyond measure, an exceedingly great quantity, even greater than what one could expect or imagine. In short, an abundance of plenitude in quantitative and qualitative terms.
A CONSTANT CHALLENGE
The life which God grants us is undoubtedly beautiful, immense, and profound. But it is also a great challenge. Our daily existence can sometimes become tough, full of risks and dangers. To become an exciting adventure, it requires a good dose of optimism, confidence and ability to fight.
Indeed, a full and happy life is not a de facto reality, something given, but something we should build day after day. It is a reality that one attains as one journeys. We pursue it – so that we may never feel satisfied and stop looking for it. It seems that the distance which separates us from the ideal remains invariable. When it seems almost at hand, behold it goes forward!
Such pursuit is not free from dangers. The figure of the Good Shepherd, who gives His life, is opposed to the one who steals it. We all know who that is! He is also the wolf that comes to snatch and scatter the sheep. He neither knocks on the front door, nor seeks the good of others. Life is also a very fragile and threatened good.
AN UNFATHOMABLE MYSTERY
Life is a mystery. Despite advances in science and technology, it continues to be an enigma. Its origins continue resisting the claim of those who strive to ‘explain’ everything – especially difficult in the case of man’s existence. The ‘mysterious’ dimension of human existence reveals itself especially in the search for the meaning of existence that, sooner or later, arises in the heart of each one of us: “What is the meaning of my life?”
This question is not always clear but it is not easy to ignore. It may be born silently, almost unobtrusively, but will grow in such a way that it cannot be dominated. Eventually, it imposes its reason. All people seek a meaning for their lives. A life ‘with meaning’ is a life ‘with value.’ A ‘meaningless’ life turns to be a heavy burden.
A SEARCH FOR MEANING
The quest for meaning is often sought within life itself. Its proof manifests in a dramatic way when life’s physical or mental conditions deteriorate to the point that a person asks if it is still worth living! In extreme cases, one can even commit suicide. No wonder, therefore, that some western countries have legalized euthanasia as a human ‘right.’ But, even without arriving at this extreme, the conservation instinct, in most cases, can dominate any suicidal ideas.
Our current culture reflects this uneasiness in existential and emotional emptiness. There are attempts to disguise and camouflage this frustration, anaesthetizing it with a few moments of joy and feeling of ‘fullness.’ A deep emptiness pervades in our society.
VOCATION: A LIFE WITH FULL MEANING
Jesus’ promise of “abundant life” is, therefore, a good starting point. Indeed, vocation is a search for plenty which overflows in mission. It is the way in which one realizes oneself and makes life more meaningful.
The Christian vocation is based on a particularly optimistic understanding of life. It stems from the experience of a God who loves us and fills us with the abundance of His riches. As Scripture says: “God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work” (2 Cor 9: 8).
The fact that such abundance comes from God is a guarantee of fullness and meaning. The Christian vocation, rooted in baptism, offers a life full of meaning, for it draws from the Trinitarian overabundance which is at the origin of the universe. Life acquires its true meaning and achieves its goal: the divine bliss!
LIFE AND VOCATION:
THE DISCOVERY OF THE SENSES
The meaning of life is revealed in vocation. Vocation, in turn, comes from life experience. A life, a vocation with an overabundance of meaning makes good use of the senses and values, and develops them to the fullest of their potential.
This is the vocational journey I propose we make during this year: the discovery of the senses as a fundamental condition to achieve an overabundant life!
