Seized by Christ

They are experiencing Christianity as joy and hope, having thus become lovers of Christ.

Tag: love

  • The Best Version of Yourself—or Something Greater?

    I first heard the phrase “the best version of yourself” on a business trip to Singapore. Later I heard Matthew Kelly use it, and I wondered—who said it first? Did he pick it up somewhere, or did others pick it up from him?

    Either way, whenever I hear it, I start asking questions. How many versions of myself are there supposed to be? It almost sounds like we’re meant to carry around a closet of personalities. “Today I’ll be Mr. Jekyll. Tomorrow I’ll be the thief. On Sunday I’ll put on my Christian self.” If that’s the case, then which one is the authentic self? And if I have to choose my “best” version, what does that say about all the rest?

    Maybe I’m on version 2.8 of my “best self” today—but what about 2.9, or 3.0? What if the best I can muster still isn’t very good? Do I just keep patching and upgrading like faulty software? Or will people ask, “Is that really your best version, or are you holding something back?”

    The more I hear this phrase, the more I think it misses the point. It makes “the best version of yourself” sound like something you accomplish on your own. But the truth is different: the best version of me is nothing compared to letting Christ live through me.

    And strangely enough, the more I put others first, the more “myself” I become. When I serve, I am surrounded by love and goodwill that multiplies my life far beyond what I could build alone. My “best version” is not about polishing up a private identity—it’s about creating the best version of my service, the best version of my vocation.

    So maybe the question isn’t, What’s the best version of yourself? but Who lives in you? Who do you belong to? Because if it’s just me, the best I can do is never enough. But if it’s Christ—then there is no limit.

    Epilogue: Where Did the Phrase Come From?

    The phrase “the best version of yourself” has become popular in motivational and self-help circles, but it has been especially tied to the work of Matthew Kelly, the Catholic author and speaker. Kelly made it a central theme in his books and talks, and for many people, the phrase is now inseparable from his message of spiritual renewal.

    That said, the idea itself isn’t unique to him. The broader self-improvement world has long promoted similar concepts about unlocking your potential, achieving your highest goals, or striving to become your “best self.”

    But here is the caution: when this phrase is left vague or purely self-focused, it can become just another slogan. It risks making people restless, always chasing after some imagined “best” that never arrives.

    Which brings us back to the Christian answer. The “best version” of you is not something you design or manufacture—it is what happens when Christ lives in you. Left to ourselves, we are always chasing. With Him, we are finally becoming.

    Developed with assistance from ChatGPT-5

  • Jesus: The Perfection of Man

    How Christ embodies the fullness of love, virtue, and unity with God

    When Christians speak of Jesus as the “Son of Man,” it’s not just a title—it’s a truth about who He is for all humanity. Jesus does not merely show us what it means to be human; He is humanity perfected. He reveals in Himself what man was always meant to be, and in doing so, He calls each of us to become fully alive in Him.

    1. The Perfection of Love
     Love is the greatest commandment and the highest calling of humanity. In Jesus, we see love without limit—love that heals, forgives, sacrifices, and redeems. His compassion for the poor, His mercy toward sinners, and His willingness to lay down His life for the undeserving all reveal a love that is not sentimental but costly. This love is not merely an emotion but a total self-giving that fulfills the law and the prophets.

    2. The Perfection of Virtue
     The word “virtue” originally meant “manliness” or “strength of character.” In Jesus, every virtue is present in its fullness—courage, justice, temperance, prudence, humility, fortitude. He is bold before the powerful, gentle with the brokenhearted, and unwavering in the face of temptation. His life shows that true manhood is not domination or pride, but the disciplined strength to serve, protect, and do what is right even when it costs everything.

    3. The Perfection of the Image of God
     Humanity was created in the image and likeness of God, yet sin has distorted that image. Jesus is the perfect and uncorrupted image of the Father. He reflects God’s nature perfectly in His thoughts, words, and actions. To look at Christ is to see what man was meant to be—fully aligned with God’s will, radiating truth, beauty, and goodness.

    4. The Perfection of Unity with the Holy Spirit
     From His conception, Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit. In His baptism, ministry, miracles, and prayer, we see a life completely guided by the Spirit of God. This unity was not partial or occasional—it was constant. His words carried divine authority because they were Spirit-led. His works carried divine power because they were Spirit-filled. In Jesus, humanity is in perfect communion with the Spirit, showing us what it means to walk with God in every moment.

    5. The Invitation to Follow
     If Jesus is the perfection of man, then following Him is not simply a religious act—it is the path to becoming fully human ourselves. He does not remain a distant ideal; He offers His Spirit so that we can share in His life. We are called not just to admire Him, but to be transformed into His likeness.

    In Christ, we see not only the perfection of man, but the perfection of our destiny. To follow Him is to walk toward the fullness of love, virtue, unity, and divine image for which we were created.

    If this reflection stirred something in you, don’t keep it to yourself. Share your thoughts in the comments below—let’s start a conversation on what true humanity looks like in Christ. If you found this post helpful, click “like,” subscribe for more reflections, and share it with someone who needs to be reminded of who they were made to be.

    Written with assistance from ChatGPT–5

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  • If Love Is the Main Christian Message, Why Does the Church Seem So Strict at Times?

    Understanding how Church discipline flows from love, not contradiction

    This question gets to the heart of a common struggle: If Christianity is centered on love, why does the Church often feel like a place of rules, restrictions, and prohibitions?

    Pope Benedict XVI anticipated this very question in Deus Caritas Est, where he asks bluntly:

    “Doesn’t the Church, with all her commandments and prohibitions, turn to bitterness the most precious thing in life?”

    The answer, as Benedict explains, is not to dismiss the rules—but to reconnect them with love. When love is forgotten, rules can feel cold or burdensome. But when love is central, even the strictness of the Church is revealed to be a form of protection and guidance.

    1. Benedict’s Challenge: Love Must Ground the Rules

    Rules lose their meaning when disconnected from love. That’s why Benedict insists the Church must re-anchor every commandment in God’s love.

    Christian morality, then, is not a burdensome legal code—it is a path of grateful response to the One who loved us first. It flows from relationship, not performance.

    2. Rules as Protective Boundaries, Not Arbitrary Limits

    Church teachings are not random restrictions. They are moral guardrails, meant to preserve human dignity and protect the possibility of real love.

    Safeguarding dignity: Certain behaviors wound ourselves and others. Catholic teaching identifies and warns against them to prevent harm.
    Map to freedom: The Church teaches that true freedom is not doing whatever we want, but doing what is good. Love needs discipline in order to grow.

    3. Loving Discipline from a Spiritual Parent

    The Church sees herself as both mother and teacher. Just as a parent sets boundaries for their child’s safety and growth, so too the Church offers moral discipline for our spiritual development.

    Spiritual fatherhood and motherhood: Rules shape conscience and virtue. They help form people capable of real, sacrificial love—not just fleeting emotion.

    4. Historical Roots: Guarding the Faith

    From the early Church to the present, moral clarity has been essential:

    Councils and canons fought heresy and spiritual confusion.
    Medieval moral theology gave believers a practical roadmap to holiness.
    Today, Pope Benedict invites us to rediscover that path—not as cold rules, but as love in action.

    The goal is not legalism. The goal is love that is wise, ordered, and enduring.

    Follow-up Question:

    Can you think of a Church teaching or rule that felt restrictive at first, but later you saw how it protected or deepened your experience of God’s love?