I’ve given a lot of thought to this since becoming Catholic in 1995. It has to be
different than what I was taught as a Mormon since the only way to fulfill the Mormon
concept of the purpose of life is to be a Mormon.
I’ve searched the lives of the Saints in trying to discern the purpose of life.
Tied to the words of our Lord concerning the two great commandments, I believe
the purpose of life is to love God and to love our neighbors. To put it very simply:
To love God means to learn of Him, to obey Him, to worship and serve Him.
To love our neighbors means to find a need and then fill it.
I wrote the above thoughts about the love of God and others about 15 years ago. I will be turning 68 this year, the same age
my Grandfather West was when he passed from this life to the next. During this Lent (2023) we had a wonderful two night Mission that discussed
who God is and why this matters. Looking back on my last 67 years of life, 45 years with my lovely wife and life partner,
our seven wonderful children and fifteen grandchildren,
(going on sixteen in the next few months) and reflecting on who God is and why He created us and placed us in this world,
led me back to considering the purpose of life. A thought came to me that was very simple:
The purpose of life IS life!
God created the world and filled it with life
of all kinds, including us. God allows all life to share in His creation. Our purpose is to share, nurture, and protect life.
Genesis 1:28
"And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth..."
As we fulfill our life purpose, God then promises through His Son Jesus Christ to share with us the life He has which is eternal life.
John 17:1-3
"These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come;
glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh,
that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal,
that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."
Jesus makes perfect our gift of life from God with eternal life. Christ, the Word of God made flesh, joined His creation and made it possible
through His death and resurection for us to have eternal life. Life is the purpose and fulfillment of creation.
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