WHY? WHERE? WHO? WHEN? HOW? OUR PURPOSE IN LIFE!

Why? Where? When? Who?  How?  These five words summarize what is called a “Philosophy of life”.  Every person in this world embraces a philosophy of life either explicitly or implicitly.

Why?  You were created out of the pure love of God!  Where? Our destiny is heaven! Who? To be with God for all eternity! When? Start right now because Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is within us! How? Follow this brief catechetical explanation of the authentic philosophy of life!

One’s philosophy of life manifests itself by decisions and actions.  Our exterior actions reflect the interior decisions in our hearts witch begin with
thoughts in our minds.

The adage “You are what you eat”, rings at least partially true. However, you are what you think, even resonates more fully as the truth.  A parallel to this maxim is “The thought is the father of the deed.”  Often what we think terminates in an idea that culminates in an action.

SAINT AUGUSTINE.  One of the greatest thinkers in the history of the world was St. Augustine.  For many years his philosophy of life was motivated by pleasure. He himself admits in his classic CONFESSIONS that he was a slave of lustful desires, until he was in his thirties.

After his conversion the center of his life was no longer the carnal desires of the flesh, but rather the person of JESUS CHRIST. Jesus would become the center, purpose and motivation of all of his desires.  In the Confessions we read the longing heart of the saint:  “O Lord you have made our hearts for thee and our hearts are restless until they rest in thee.”

In another brilliant and profound passage Augustine urges us to choose carefully our philosophy of life, with these words worthy of deep meditation:  “We must all love, but must choose wisely the object of our heart and then to love with all of our heart.”

Philosophies of life can be true or false. Hedonism, Materialism, Consumerism, Agnosticism, Atheism, Reincarnationism, Nihilism,  New-ageism,
Rationalism, Stoicism—all are philosophies of life, but they all end in a one-way, dead end street.

CATECHETICAL PRINCIPLE AND FOUNDATION FOR ALL…

One of the first and basic catechetical truths that all should know and embrace as their philosophy of life is the following: “We are here to
know God, love God and serve God in this life so as to be with Him forever in heaven.”

May this simple but profound catechetical truth permeate and imbue our lives and motivate all of our actions. 

If we know where we are heading then we can place all of the energy of our wills to arrive at that destination. 

If not we are destined to be like the ship without the port, or the arrow without the target, or the chicken with his head cut off, or the dog fiercely running after his tail that he will  never  attain, or the little one running after his shadow, always beyond his grasp.
How can we grow into living out our Christian philosophy of life?   Four quick suggestions to start the ascent of the mountain that leads to eternal
happiness!

First, KNOW GOD!  Impossible it is to love somebody that you do not know or only know in a vague and partial manner. GOSPEL READING.  Form the transforming habit of meditating prayerfully on some passage of the Gospel. Any easy way is to take the Gospel that the Liturgical Year offers daily. If you like use the “Magnificat” that gives the daily reading. Before reading ask the Holy Spirit to inspire you to encounter the Person, the feelings and the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Second, LOVE GOD!   The greatest of all commandments can be summed up in one word: LOVE!   Seeking for the greatest of all commandments the Scribe spelled it out clearly: “To love God with all one’s heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself.”(Lk. 10:27)
Jesus approved the insight of his answer.

Jesus asked Saint Thomas Aquinas to beg for one gift. The Angelic Doctor responded with: “Lord I beg for the grace to love you more each day.”

In the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola the grace that is most sought after in the entire program of the Exercises is the following: “Beg for the grace of intimate knowledge of Jesus that you love Him more ardently and follow Him more closely.”

A practical suggestion to attain to the love of Christ is the most Holy Eucharist. After receiving this great Sacrament into your heart, tell the Lord that you love Him and that you want to love Him more and more each day and to die loving Him as did the Blessed Virgin Mary!

Third, SERVE GOD!  Love to be authentic must translate into concrete actions. Why not read Mt. 25:31-46 which is the Parable of the Last Judgment. Here we have a Program of life that if lived out will lead us to eternal salvation. Outlined with utter clarity, Jesus gives us the Corporal
works of mercy: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger, and to visit both the sick and the imprisoned. However, the key to the proper interpretation of this passage is that when we help out any of these people we are indeed helping out Jesus. In the words of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta:  “We must recognize Jesus in the distressing disguise of the poor.” Jesus is not far away, but as close as the person that you willingly serve in his needs! May Our Lady who served Saint Elizabeth, attain for us the grace to see Jesus in all those we serve.  (Read Lk. 1: 39-45— The Visitation of Mary to St. Elizabeth, the second Joyful Mystery of the Rosary).

Fourth, HAPPINESS IN HEAVEN.  As a motivational dynamo the frequent thought of heaven can help and encourage us to grow in the knowledge, love and service of God. Every day we should ponder and reflect at least briefly on the reality of Heaven. Saint Paul reminds us with these encouraging words:  “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it entered into the mind of man the wonderful things that God has prepared for those who love Him.” Enduring the many trials, crosses and tribulations of even a long life is really nothing in comparison with the immense joy, peace, happiness, and love that we will experience in Heaven. Furthermore, Heaven is forever and ever and ever. May Our Lady, gate of Heaven, attain for us an ardent and constant yearning for heaven our true destiny and permanent resting place!