The True Meaning of Life

How often in the rat race of life, with work, family, kids, school activities, sporting events, running from here to there, do we find ourselves asking the question: What is the purpose of all of this; there has to be something more?

Well, there is something more! And there is only one way to bring meaning to our lives and to experience the fullness of life that Jesus spoke of when He said, “I came so that [you] might have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

Why did God make us? The Baltimore Catechism says the answer is: "God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world and to be happy with Him forever in the next." Well, let’s be honest, that doesn’t sound very exciting, in fact, it sounds like a lot of work. What happened to Jesus’ promise that the Kingdom of God is “at hand.” Doesn’t that mean now? I believe it does. But it requires work, sacrifice and oftentimes suffering. But if we stay connected to God, the reward, now in this life, far outweighs the pain.

In a recent reflection on her website, Good News Ministries (www.gnm.org), Terry Modica wrote:

It's an odd thing about the kingdom of God: The way we get into the party is not as a special guest who should be entertained, but by becoming like Jesus our Host, who, "emptied himself and took the form of a servant." This is why many turn away from God's invitations.

Every invitation to God's party looks like a job – a service – of some sort, and it will often seem difficult and unpleasant. "Dear friend," the invitation card reads, "please join me in the celebration I've planned. It's a pot-luck supper, so bring something to share."

Ugh. I was hoping this would be a catered affair.

But you know what? Once we get into the task that God's invited us to do, we discover it comes with many blessings. We come alive with personal satisfaction and renewed energy, because we're doing it with Jesus.

I want you to recall the times in your life that brought you joy, peace and serenity. This could involve sitting in front of the ocean or on a mountain top, working in your garden, watching your kids sporting event or maybe just washing the dishes.

In his book “Finding God in All Things,” Fr. William Barry, S.J. calls this the “I know not what” experience. It is the feeling of being lost in some perfect harmony. We notice that the experience includes a sense of great well-being, but we can’t explain why. While in the experience we do not worry about ourselves, our worth, and our goodness. We seem to take for granted that we are okay in so far as we think of ourselves at all. While immersed in the experience we do not worry about our past failures or what the future may hold. We feel at one with the universe and as whole as we could possibly be. The experience itself strengthens our desire to want more. We want something very much, and the desire is not for this or that thing or even for health or happiness, but for relationship or union. Moreover the desire we experience is the deepest desire within us.

Why does this happen to us? Why the profound desire to search for a greater meaning of life?

I believe it happens because it is hard-wired in each of us. It is there by design. “I will place my law within them and write it upon their hearts” (Jer 31:33) “The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC], 27) Because this inner longing is “written in the human heart” by God, people experience a restlessness that only God can satisfy.

That inner longing is there even without suffering the hardships that certainly exist in this life. (Although, perhaps that is one reason why suffering exists in the first place: How can we say we feel well, if we have never been sick?  How can we appreciate light, if we have never experienced darkness?  Why would we desire a glass of fresh water if we did not know what thirst was?) But I digress, even without hardships and suffering, at some point, we all, find ourselves searching for the answer to what gives our life value, meaning and purpose.

Then, we have one of these “I know not what” experiences. Even if it lasts only a few seconds, it provides us with a memory of: “I know not what,” but I know I want that experience again.

I believe that the purpose of this, “I know not what” experience is, itself, to draw us INTO and BACK TO the very reason we exist in the first place.

To give us a glimpse of the purpose of our lives: which is to live in harmony with the universe and God.

Living in harmony with the universe then necessarily extends to how we treat the rest of creation and most importantly how we treat each other. To treat each other with mercy, love and compassion is how Jesus lived. This is God’s will. THIS is what gives value to our lives.

Over the years we have been taught:

• Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
• It is better to give then to receive.
• You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.

One of my favorite books is “Tuesdays with Morrie.” It is a true story. The author of the book, Mitch Albom, learns that his former professor, Morrie Schwartz is dying from Lou Gehrig’s disease. Albom decides that this will be his last lesson from his old professor: to discover the meaning of life through a dying man’s eyes. On page 43, Morrie sums up the entire book by saying, “The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.”

Because God desires a connection to us, it is not surprising then that the major religions of the world, all preach the same message:

Jesus’ commandment was: Love one another.

The Apostle John said: God is Love.

Buddha said: Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule.

The Dalai Lama said: Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive. He also said: All major religious traditions carry basically the same message: that is love, compassion and forgiveness - the important thing is they should be part of our daily lives. 

Confucius said: Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.

Mahatma Gandhi said: The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. He also said: Where there is love there is life.

The Prophet Muhammad said: "You will not enter paradise until you have faith; and you will not complete your faith til you love one another." He also said: Do you love your creator: Love your fellow-beings first.”

It’s pretty disturbing that with all of this Religious Wisdom we have had  the crusades, the inquisition,  the holocaust, numerous holy wars,  the crucifixion of Christ, and Jihad. We as human beings have an uncanny ability to pervert the TRUTH.

However, despite our human failings – the bottom line is:

ALL PEOPLE need and are hungering for compassion, sympathy and love. Very simply put: THAT is our purpose in life - the very meaning of our lives IS to give compassion, sympathy and love to EVERYONE and as often as we can. To live as Jesus lived because that is God’s will.