Finding Fulfillment in Christ - Mk 1:29-39

Christ gives meaning for life. Yeah!!

How boring life could be if we had nothing to live for. Imagine just living for your wages at the end of the week. Amazingly many people do just that. In fact, money can actually become their God; for this is what they end up living for.

Thank God for the gift of Jesus in our lives: for in Him we have new meaning and purpose. Believing in Jesus and His message of salvation opens us up to a whole new reality.

 I remember coming back from Medjugorje for the first time with this incredible conviction of the reality of heaven and how close and special I was to God and the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was out of such an experience that I really felt a desire to commit my life totally to the Lord. What an incredible blessing for my life! ‘Thank you Jesus. Thank you Mother Mary.’

Such an experience gave new meaning to my life, for before that, I was actually that person who lived for the things of this world. At that time, what was most important for me was literally the big wage packet I got. Life’s meaning took the shape of making sure that I had all those worldly securities and pleasures: plenty of money, a good car, a nice flat, cigarettes, alcohol, night clubs and the girls that came with it.  I thought that this was where happiness started and finished. Unfortunately for so many young people in this humanistic culture, people pursue many if not all of these things, thinking that in them they will find meaning. It’s only later they realise that there is still a deep void inside, a feeling of emptiness that nothing seemed to fill.

 If you read this Sunday’s Gospel from Mark, you’ll see this man, Jesus of Nazareth (out of his time of prayer to his Heavenly Father), going forth to preach and to heal his people (Mk. 1:29-39). Here Jesus offers a true example of what life’s meaning and purpose is, i.e. a life dedicated to our Heavenly Father, lived out in service of our brothers and sisters. Yes, herein lies our fulfilment. In coming to know Christ and his plan for our lives, we discover afresh the true meaning of dying to self and living for others.

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (Jn. 10:10). Let us decide today for Christ and find contentment and fulfilment in him, Amen.