From time to time, we come across people who do not seem to have an ultimate direction or purpose in life. Some of these people think that this life is all there is to it, and they try to live this live to the fullest and try to enjoy this life as much as possible, with the view that once this life is over, they would be finished, cease to exist, as they believe that there is nothing to look forward to after this life. But what about us Christians? What do we really believe in? What is our true purpose in life?
In today’s second reading, St. Paul reminds us: “Before the world was made, he chose us, chose us in Christ, to be holy and spotless, and to live through love in his presence, determining that we should become his adopted sons, through Jesus Christ for his own kind purposes, to make us praise the glory of his grace, his free gift to us in the Beloved, in whom, through his blood, we gain our freedom, the forgiveness of our sins.” What does this reading mean to us? It means that we have been chosen for God’s own purpose which is; to be holy and spotless; to live in love; to be His adopted children; and to praise the glory of His grace.
We have been chosen for God’s own purpose to be holy and spotless. This does not mean that we must be perfect or have certain qualifications. In today’s first reading, the prophet Amos tells Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, that he is only a humble shepherd and one who looked after sycamore trees, and that he was just an ordinary man whom God had chosen for his purposes. Holiness, therefore, means depending on God’s care and grace. This is why in today’s gospel, Jesus sent out the twelve apostles and tells them to carry nothing with them: no money, no extra clothing. They are to depend on God’s providence. We have been chosen for God’s own purpose to live in love. Life without love is meaningless and that is why we must not make hatred, resentment, success, riches and power as our life goals. Instead, we should make love our goal, since we make God present when we love. We have been chosen for God’s own purpose to be His adopted children. This means we should behave like his children by living in the light: our lives must be marked by honesty, love, and purity. Finally, we have been chosen for God’s own purpose to praise the glory of His grace. This means that each of us has been given a mission to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God and to speak of His love by telling others that God loves them too.
What do all of these mean? It means that we have an ultimate direction or purpose in life. We have been chosen for God’s own purpose and to be cared and loved by Him. By knowing how precious and important we are in God’s eyes, we should celebrate and give thanks for His providence, and share this wonderful news with others, and invite and encourage them to join us to do the same.