(Col 1:9-14; Ps 98; Lk 5:1-11)
Why are we here? What is our life’s purpose? Does our life matter? Big questions that have been asked and debated by many a philosopher, theologian and seeker. I imagine you too have asked similar questions over the years. In my work, in my family, and in my friendships I see individuals looking for answers to these eternal existential questions as well.
Individuals in the midst of pain, loss, trauma and anguish cry out – trying to find meaning while in the depth of their darkness. They are trying to find some kind of peace, meaning and answer to their pain. If we hurt there must be a higher reason for our pain cries the Christian. It seems mankind is perpetually asking questions and seeking answers. We thirst for meaning. So I ask you, why does our life need to have meaning, why does it have to matter? Why do the lives of our loved ones need to matter? Why do we need for our pain to matter – can’t it just be pain for pains sake as the atheist would claim?
The answer is simple – we matter because we matter to God. God has planted within our hearts a desire to matter, a desire to make a difference in the world, a desire to make the world a better place. While we will certainly never understand the fullness of God’s intent, and we will never understand why God wants us to experience the beauty of knowing we matter, we are nonetheless drawn towards the heart of God and his plan for our lives. Given this we will always strive to find our purpose and our “higher calling”, we will always strive to understand why we are here on planet earth. And it is God, through his love for us that we are shown the path towards himself – the path towards real happiness. It is through his sacred Scripture that he speaks to us – just as he did in the early days of the church when he spoke to the church Fathers.
Today’s Scripture (Col 1:9-14), is steeped with rich direction for us to follow. Paul, when speaking to the Colossians shares with them his deepest desires for their lives. I don’t normally write out the days Scripture in my reflections; however, I will today so that you can reflect on it as you read further.
St. Paul and his companions prayed for the Colossians (without ceasing mind you…) asking God that they (my emphasis added below):
- be filled with the knowledge of God’s will.
- receive this knowledge through all spiritual wisdom and understanding so that they can walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.
- can bear in every good work good fruit and giving in knowledge with every power.
- can do this all in accord with God’s glorious might for all endurance and patience.
- can do this with joy giving thanks to the Father who makes them fit to share in the inheritance of the holy ones of light.
Paul then goes on to proclaim that God delivered all of them from the power of darkness and transferred them to the Kingdom of his beloved Son whom rests redemption and forgiveness of sins.
What this means my friends is that the desires Paul held for the Colossians were available to them! The Colossians could be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, they could come to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, they could bear good fruit, they could endure all with patience and they could share in the joy of Christ with the holy ones of light; all the while being delivered from darkness and transferred to the Kingdom through Jesus Christ and the forgiveness of sins. These promises are available to us as fellow Christians and lovers of Jesus Christ today as well! Just as today’s Psalm proclaims (Psalm 98), “The Lord has made known his salvation” – and it can be found in Scripture.
Through the study of sacred Scripture we will come to understand who we really are and the promises offered us by God himself. There is but just one catch…we need to know what God is offering us. Just as we need to have an understanding of the menu at our favorite restaurant before we can place our order, we need to understand what God is offering us before we can adequately ask him meaningful questions. The early church Fathers knew the importance of understanding Scripture and, as a result, they knew how to better communicate with God. They studied Scripture day and night. They breathed in sacred Scripture, they strove to understand not only the words, they strove to understand and feel the message God spoke through the text. The Holy Spirit guided them to a deep and profound understanding of God through Scripture and the Holy Spirit will guide us today.
As we continue on our journey towards God we will come to better understand who we really are. At some point we can only hope to be called to the next step… Like Peter in today’s Gospel (Luke 5:1-11), we too may be called to be fishers of men if we but only stay the course and follow Christ. Keep your nose in the good book my friends and you will experience a blossoming of your heart that is beyond all words and human understanding.
Breath of Christ
Breath in: I
Breath out: love
Breath in: you
Breath: Jesus!
LIVE Healthy, LIVE Happy, LIVE Wholly – LIVE Fully!!!
