True Meaning of Life

Life has a way of getting us to contemplate and be introspective. One of the things many of us began to ponder during the MCO was ‘the true meaning of life”.  Here are some of the thoughts shared by friends who are Christians and non- Christians:

Non-Christians:

Su :  it is whatever you think is meaningful for you or right for you.

Puga:  feel too young to know the meaning of life.

Goh:  it is to eat well, sleep well and have advancement- both for ourselves and neighbours.

Satia: is to have a family that loves you and makes you feel safe.

Suresh: it is to be one with God.

Christians:

Gerard:  it is to be one with God in love, wisdom and virtues

Anne: whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God(1 Cor10: 31)

George: read the book of wisdom, Sirach, Proverb, Ecclesiasticus and Job-

Marshall: your choice – be joyful.

Tammy:  it is hearing God’s call for my life and heeding to that call-joy amidst pain, peace amidst discomfort, wisdom amidst frustration.

Ian : to live in harmony with the rest of creation.

Lyn: to bring as many people to heaven as possible

Pope Francis : “the meaning of life is love” (Sept 14, 2018). “In fact, we were created to love and be loved,” “Love gives energy and fruitfulness to life and to the journey of faith,” he said. “Without love, both life and faith remain sterile.” (Oct 30, 2017)

Christians or non-Christians, we all have something in common- want to love and to be loved; want blessings and happiness in our lives and for others and want God in our lives. We find meaning in life through love and God.

St. Augustine of Hippo confessed that our hearts are restless until it rests in God; for God is love. We are reminded that we are nothing without love (1 Cor 13:2) and to love our neighbours as ourselves (Gal 5: 13-14; Rom 13: 9;Lk 10: 27).

Sr. Clare Crockett, a dynamic and spirited Irish sister who died in an earthquake in Ecuador in 2016 and on the way to sainthood found the meaning of life in doing God’s will. She wrote “asks the Lord what he wants from you” – it is there you find joy- even in difficult moments. She gave all she had in living a life of love and doing the will of God.

May we too find meaning in life as we walk in love and live our vocations by giving all we have, be it a religious life, ordained life, single life or married life.

SR