When was the last time you felt fully alive?

"The glory of God is man fully alive." 

Some words and ideas are so powerful that they change you even as you read them. This quote, which is attributed to Saint Irenaeus, is one of them.

Born in 130 AD, Irenaeus spent his life defending the Catholic faith from heresies. Because of his efforts, we get to experience the full genius of Catholicism to this day.

Religion and God are often accused of trying to limit people, when in reality they seek to bring the very best out of us. "Out of us" because God has already placed within us a self that is good. God and religion are often accused of trying to impose things upon people, but the reality is quite the opposite. God yearns for a dynamic relationship with each of his children, and through that relationship he seeks to draw out the-very-best-version-of-ourselves.

God is interested not only in our spiritual activities, but in every aspect of our lives. He is interested not only in our spiritual self, but in our whole self: physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual.

Irenaeus' words are a beautiful invitation. He is inviting us to live life to the fullest. His quote echoes Jesus' words, "I have come so that you may have life and have it to the fullest" (John 10:10).

Where does this life come from? How can we live life to the fullest? Only because God has placed his life within us, and that life is precious. When we waste time, we abuse that precious gift. When we avoid what we clearly know we should be doing, we are suppressing some aspect of God's life within us. Jesus tells us, "The kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:21), and I assume God is in his kingdom.

Man fully alive. Woman fully alive. You fully alive. What a beautiful idea. Imagine how life would be if you were thriving physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually.

Are you fully alive? Are you living life to the fullest? What obstacles are preventing you from being fully alive and living life to the fullest? Do you pretend you don't know what they are? Do you believe those obstacles can be overcome? What would need to change for you to be fully alive?



Patron Saint of: Apologists and Catechists

Feast Day: June 28

Feast Day Shared By: Saint Paul I