IN THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE BIBLE LESSON August 25, 2008 Issue

A FULL LIFE

TOM FULLER

THIS WEEK'S Christian Science Bible Lesson, "Christ Jesus," is framed by the Beatitudes and culminates in Jesus' promise: "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10, Section VI, citation 17). The Golden Text at the start of the Lesson is drawn from the Contemporary English Version of that verse: "I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest."

All too rarely have I had the pleasure of watching a new mother with her baby. She's endlessly delighted with each detail of her child (note Jesus' love of little children in Bible cit. 6 and see Science and Health cits. 8 and 12). Jesus said that the very hairs of our head are numbered by the Father (see Bible cit. 16). Like a mother, God knows every detail of our being—and endlessly delights in each unique expression of His own loveliness, lovableness, perfectness, and blessedness.

The word bless occurs 23 times in various forms in this Lesson. And as we study the Beatitudes, it's helpful to appreciate that the Latin beatus means "blessed." Every blessing illuminates our relationship to the Blesser—our dear Father-Mother! The word translated as blessed or happy in the Beatitudes is the Greek makarios, meaning "supremely blessed." We are blessed because of and through God's delight in us. Jesus' message invites us to (and insists that we) feel and live this blessedness.