Understanding Life’s Purpose in Catholic Teaching – Sep 04 – Homily – Fr Charbel

 

Fr Charbel gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Sep 04, 2024, where he reflects on a foundational question from the Baltimore Catechism: "Why did God make you?" The response—"God made me to know, love, and serve Him in this world and be happy with Him forever in the next"—is crucial to understanding the purpose of life. This answer highlights two goals: to serve God on earth and to attain eternal happiness in heaven. Keeping this purpose at the forefront of our minds helps guide all of life’s decisions. Father uses the analogy of a journey, explaining that, much like a traveler who always knows their destination, we must always keep our ultimate purpose—serving God and reaching heaven—present in our thoughts.

He emphasizes that while miracles are a means to grow in faith, they are not ends in themselves. He refers to the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law (Matthew 8:14-15 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/8?14) as an example of how a miracle prompted immediate service to God. Similarly, ministers and preachers serve as means to guide us toward God, but we should not fixate on them at the expense of focusing on Christ Himself. Father refers to 1 Corinthians 3:4 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/3?4, where St. Paul warns against divisions caused by allegiance to specific preachers rather than to Christ.

Finally, Father encourages us to balance means and ends, always reflecting on whether our decisions help us know, love, and serve God better, with the ultimate goal of eternal happiness with Him. He prays for the intercession of the Blessed Mother, who perfectly kept her end in mind throughout her life.

Ave Maria!

Mass: St. Rose of Viterbo - http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13193a.htm
Readings: Wednesday in the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/090424.cfm
1st: 1co 3:1-9
Resp: psa 33:12-15, 20-21
Gsp: luk 4:38-44

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=708&r=932

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