In Minnesota we joke about something we call the “Minnesota Goodbye.” The Minnesota Goodbye is a prolonged process of saying goodbye to a leaving guest, or as a leaving guest. In the typical scenario, guests will fully prepare to leave by putting on their hats and jackets while the hosts are present, and hen guests and hosts stand at the doorway for anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour making small talk interspersed with the occasional “Well, I suppose we should get going” from guests…who then continue hanging out by the door with no visible effort to actually leave. In Central Minnesota, we are having a Minnesota Goodbye with winter, as cold temperatures and even snow in mid-April are our situation. That said, winter is a beautiful guest if you know how to see it that way, and a long goodbye can be a good thing. I took this photo on a resplendent Sunday morning in mid-April before heading to mass.
Life, and Life More Abundantly
Today’s Gospel reading in the Liturgy of the Word is from John 10:1-10, and includes the very important announcement from Jesus Christ that his purpose, his mission, the reason for everything he is doing, is summed up in, “I came that they might have life, and have it more abundantly.” These words communicate to us that Jesus Christ intends for us to have everything that we associate with full and deep living. The original Greek text of the Gospel uses the word ζωή or zoe (pronounced zo-ay) for life, which is very different from he other common Greek word for life βίος or bios. Whereas bios refers to simply being alive, zoe refers to full and deep living in all of its dimensions, especially spiritual, and even an eternal never-ending existence in fully living.
Science is Confirming Faith
In our contemporary world, we even understand that researching the full human life, something we now call “human flourishing,” is a legitimate and important effort. With research at places like the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University, we learn that human flourishing is definable, and we can clearly identify the practices that a person can do that are associated most, and contribute to, human flourishing at the personal and community levels.* Of these, we learn that forgiveness is especially important and powerful for human flourishing. Advancements in neuroscience also confirm for us that we are literally wired in the most complex and ornate ways to experience life, well-being, and our ability to connect with the transcendent, with great depth and embodiment of experiences. It’s what we’re literally built for.
When You Understand Why, You Understand What
When you can understand Jesus Christ’s intention, you can better understand everything that Jesus Christ taught and did. It is the lens through which to view his words and deeds in order to truly understand their meaning. Everything is always said and done for our good, even if we can’t see it for ourselves. A Gospel event like Jesus overturning the tables of moneychangers in the temple area may sound punitive or even vindictive, but knowing the intent of zoe, we have to open our minds and consider how the event may have been for everyone’s good. Perhaps people truly were better off after all.
The Unchanging Promise that Change is Possible
Our lives work the same way. We are meant for a full and abundant life, Jesus Christ is always at work to offer us that, and events often happen where we may not see the offer of full and abundant life and need to remember that Jesus Christ intends it for us always. This is especially important for people who are in tough situations that could easily be grounds for hopelessness and despair. God intends a full and abundant life for you, and is always at work to offer it to you no matter how bad your situation or your past may be.
Please share these words with someone who needs them today.
* I completed my training in forgiveness facilitation in the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University, and am an active member of the Harvard University Human Flourishing Network and the Harvard University Forgiveness Community of Practice.
Supplemental Material: Watch this video of Fr. Caoimhín Ó Laoide (OFM) sharing a Franciscan perspective on human flourishing.
If your parish or faith community is seeking a deeper experience of forgiveness and wellness for inner renewal and spiritual growth, Live and Forgive is here to help. To begin the conversation, email Live and Forgive presenter and facilitator Tom Delaney at tom@liveandforgive.com — he will be glad to connect with you for a conversation.
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