Fulfillment in Christ: Colossians 1:24-29, especially vs. 28: "Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus." In the prayers immediately before Holy Communion in the Divine Liturgy, we acknowledge two contrasting realities: the living, flesh-and-blood presence of the Holy Lord Jesus, our Savior and God, and the incomplete, sinful and unworthy state of our souls and bodies. Hence, each of us says, "I believe that this is truly Thine Own immaculate Body, and that this is truly Thine Own precious Blood," and "make me worthy to partake without condemnation of Thine immaculate Mysteries...unto the healing of soul and body." Let us humbly admit that each time we approach the Sacred Chalice, we are acknowledging the Lord Jesus to be the One Who is able to complete, restore, heal, forgive, and perfect us. No wonder we come!
While in this life it is true that there are many persons and events through which we experience fulfillment, yet we know that every single person or thing through which we gain any completion or fulfillment shall eventually dim, tarnish, and perish. However, when we come to Jesus our Lord for fulfillment, we anticipate what is true, eternal, and complete, "the hope of glory" (vs. 27). We anticipate the realization of the "perfection that is in Him" (vs. 28).
The Apostle's primary focus in today's reading is the "fulfillment" that is in Christ. As he wrote to the Colossians, St. Paul was enduring sufferings to "fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ" (vs. 24). Fulfilling "the word of God" was his sole reason for preaching the Gospel (vs. 25).. He sought the "hope of glory" for the Gentiles, the Christian Mystery hidden for ages, but now known, so that they might be fulfilled (vss. 26,27). He labored in all his ministry to "present every man perfect in Christ Jesus" - fulfilled (vs. 28).
Let us first observe the Apostle's assertion that true fulfillment is realized in the Faithful through sufferings (vs. 24). We have the Apostle's own example (vs. 24). Also, is not the Holy Chalice which we approach a cup of suffering? "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till He come" (1 Cor. 11:26). Furthermore, we have the plain word of the Lord that those who would come after Him must take up their cross (Lk. 9:23).
The whole of our Orthodox Tradition calls us to suffering. The Apostles and the Fathers elevate the sufferings of the Faithful to include them in the Lord's own sufferings (Col. 1:24), which accounts for the Lord's uniting Himself to the Faithful who were being jailed and murdered, for recall that He told Saul of Tarsus: "I am Jesus Whom thou persecutest" (Acts 9:5).
Furthermore, the warning which St. Paul gives in today's passage plainly states that we shall reach "the end," we shall be fulfilled, but only through labor and striving (vss. 28,29). The Apostle's remarks are matched by similar comments from St. John of the Ladder, "Keep a firm hold of the blessed gladdening sorrow of holy compunction, and do not stop working at it until it raises you high above the things of this world, and presents you pure to Christ."
Let us also take note that the true fulfillment which we seek is not a goal we achieve solely by our strength or through our "labor and striving," as necessary as these are. Only the word of God achieves true fulfillment, and as the Apostles teach, the word is a gift (vs. 25). Let us then, as we said before, approach the Blessed Chalice from need and with a longing for Christ's fulfillment, that ultimate Mystery "which is Christ in you" (vs. 27). The Lord's presence within us fulfills and completes. Let no one hesitate to come to Him humbly, to cling to Him alone, and to cry out to Him for fulfillment - that he be made "perfect in Christ Jesus" (vs. 28).
Thou alone, Good Lord, art the sanctification and splendor of our souls.