Recently, I was driving home, after a difficult afternoon, and I noticed a church marquee that stated: "IT ALL STARTS WITH GOD!" For some reason those five words calmed me, gave me peace and left me smiling. I was pleasantly reminded that everything is anchored in God's love and purpose for us. Life doesn't only begin with God but is sustained by His love for us.

Our purpose in life is far greater than our own personal fulfillment, greater than even peace of mind or happiness. It is far greater than our family, our career, or our wildest dreams and ambitions. Yes these are important facets of life, yet truly our 'purpose' is to become the person God created us to be. St. Ireneaus said, "God's glory is a human person fully alive".

The search for purpose has puzzled many throughout the centuries. Typically, we begin at the wrong starting point - ourselves. We ask self centered questions like: "What do I want to be?" "What should I do with my life?" "What are my goals, my dreams, my future?"

Again, these are necessary questions but somehow we fail to discover life's true calling and purpose when looking solely through a lens pointing back towards ourselves. Rather, we might consider, what are we created to be?

If I handed you my plans for an invention you had never seen before, you probably wouldn't understand its function. Only the creator can reveal its purpose. As we discover who God created us to be, we recognize that our Lord is not simply the starting point of our life, He is the source and sustainer of it!

We discover more by reading the "owners manual", God's word... the Bible. As we read the Holy Scriptures, the Holy Spirit will help shape, inspire, and direct us as we seek to grow closer to God and one another. "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7

Jesus said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him." John 14:24

As we commit to a relationship with Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit moves through us uniting us with our Lord. By receiving the sacraments of Holy Communion and Confession, through discipline of daily prayer, and through the practice of fasting, we will see our lives transformed and our purpose revealed.

It's time we get back to the basics of our spiritual walk. Take small steps towards building a relationship with our creator and author of our lives. Start today, by making time to pray ~ before meals, in the morning, before you fall asleep, before a journey, as you go through the routines of daily life.

Start today by setting aside time to read and listen to God's Word, allowing His words to be engraved on our hearts. Start with God, be inspired by His Word and live in prayer.

God bless you,

Fr. Tom