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One Bread, One Body - Reflection for July 22, 2007

LIFE TO THE FULL

"We admonish all men and teach them in the full measure of wisdom, hoping to make every man complete in Christ." –Colossians 1:28

Jesus came that we "might have life and have it to the full" (Jn 10:10). Today's second reading reveals the fullness Jesus wants us to have:

• full sufferings. We "fill up what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ" in our own flesh (Col 1:24) for the good of others,
• the fullness of God's word (Col 1:25),
• full glory – beyond price (Col 1:27),
• full revelation (Col 1:26) of what was once a mystery but is now revealed to the holy ones,
• the "full measure of wisdom," with the grace for all of us to become complete in Christ (Col 1:28),
• the full energy of Christ, "which is so powerful a force within" us (Col 1:29), and
• "full assurance" through our "knowledge of the mystery of God – namely Christ – in Whom every treasure of wisdom and knowledge is hidden" (Col 2:2-3).

"It pleased God to make absolute fullness reside in" Jesus (Col 1:19), and it pleases Jesus to fill you with the Holy Spirit (see Acts 2:4).

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Acknowledgement

Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:

· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College