Baptism, why? (III) The purpose..what the church say

continuing...

Well, yes, why don't we ask God what is His purpose in creating us? What is our lives purpose then? Where can we find answer from God? where can we hear His voice? Maybe we can start from the Bible and the Church.

I have been reading CCC (Cathecism of the Catholic Church) for sometime, and it is great. I found the wisdom that God gives to the church. And even amazingly, the questions on why God creates us and what is His purpose, is written plainly inside it.

The bible also says that God has revealed this mystery."For he has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ " Eph1:9

This is what is written in CCC.
51 "It pleased God, in his goodness and wisdom, to reveal himself and to make known the mystery of his will. His will was that men should have access to the Father, through Christ, the Word made flesh, in the Holy Spirit, and thus become sharers in the divine nature."

St. Paul said, "for through him we both have access in one Spirit tothe Father. " Eph 2:18

And let us listen to our first Pope, St. Peter, said "by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature. " 2 Ptr 1:4

from CCC again
460 The Word became flesh to make us "partakers of the divine nature":"For this is why the Word became man, and the Son of God became the Son of man: so that man, by entering into communion with the Word and thus receiving divine sonship, might become a son of God." "For the Son of God became man so that we might become God.""The only-begotten Son of God, wanting to make us sharers in his divinity, assumed our nature, so that he, made man, might make men gods."

How amazing it is, it speaks the same thing as the book that I read before. God's will was that we, all of us, should have access to GOD, and in this way we become sharers in the divine nature. God wants to share His life to us. He wants us to become sharer in His divinity, His divine nature. We become partakers of the divine nature, St Peter said. And as St.Thomas Aquinas said, "The only-begotten Son of God, wanting to make us sharers in his divinity, assumed our nature, so that he, made man,might make men gods."

Next: The purpose...our desire
---to be continue

Baptism, why? (II) The Purpose...

continuing....

Yes, What is Paschal Mystery? and How is it related to our lives' purpose? What is the purpose of our lives?

I will not try to give a close answer for this questions for everyone, I simply share how I feel as I read the books and how I feel that this is what God is telling me.

I could not remember exactly the words. But this is what is planted in my mind and in my heart, "God created us so that He may share His own DIVINE Life. So that we may be in Union with this Divine Life, in union with GOD".

How amazing it is!!. we are created so that we may in union with GOD. We, the creation, in union with the Creator. GOD, the Creator, wants to share HIS own LIFE, His own divinity to us His creation. I am so amazed at this statement.

For some of us, it might be difficult to see this as a purpose of our lives. Of course, It is difficult for me as well. And why is it we can not except this truth as our life's purpose? Simply because this is not what we are thinking of life. This might not be what we want. This is the purpose that is being imposed to me. Why should we accept it?

I once read the book "Purpose Driven Life". It is a christian book. And the opening chapter realized me of one truth in searching my life's purpose. I started from the wrong starting point.

As we ask ourselves what is our life's purpose, we always start from ourselves, we ask what we want? what are the things that bring us happiness? what is my dream? How do I want to spend my life? Who are the person that can bring me happiness?

And the writer of the book said we won't find our live's purpose if we start from ourselves, from the point of view "ME" and "I".

Where then we should start? We should start from the one who creates us! We should seek the creator and find the answer in the creater. How can we find answer on what's the purpose of creation is if we us the creation itself?

If for example our friend invent something new. We might try to guess what is it meant for but we never really sure. How do we make sure? We should ask our friend who invent it. So ask God.

We never finds our lives' purpose might be because we start form ourselves. And when God is trying to tell us, we are having difficulty to accept it. If only we try to accept it, maybe we will find what we are looking for this time long.

Next: The Purpose...what the church say
----to be continue

Baptism, why? (I)

Testing.. testing :)
I would like to post my reflection on the wonders of baptism:

Dearest brothers and sisters,
I would just like to share some of my reflection on baptism and the purpose of our lives. It might be quite long, so I will share it in several e-mails hehehe.

You know, I was born Catholic. And I believe for many of us who were baptized when we were baby, we might wondering what is baptism is all about.

I was wondering as well. I asked my self, "What is baptism? I don't remember it, I do not feel it, it seems I do not experience it at all, I only know that my parents told me that I have been baptized."

Another questions that I often ask is that what is the purpose of my life. It seems to be the questions that everyone is asking, or yet to ask in their lives. And there was one moment in my life I decided and said to myself, "Well, maybe it's a mystery by itself, I do not need to bother with the purpose of my life, I just need to live it as best as I should. Maybe I would never know the real purpose of my life."

Well, to me my life's purpose is still clouded with questions. But God shows me that we should know the purpose of our lives. It is this purpose that drives us, it will moves us, it will help us to see the reality of God's love. It shows the splendour of Christian lives. It makes our lives directed to one end. What is this end then?

You might be wondering why I jump from baptism to the topic of life's purpose. Well, to be honest I was reflecting about baptism when suddenly God reminds me on this life's purpose and how baptism leads us to this end.

Going back to our lives' purpose. I started to reflect about this in this recent year. There was a Eucharistic Congress in Singapore and the Archdiocese invited a speaker from Blessed Sacrament priest to preach in this congress, his name is Errasto Fernandes. Before that time I was attending a retreat Youth in The Spirit Seminar and during the retreat they are selling books, religous books.

I was interested in one of the books, titled "The Bread We Break", it's about Eucharist. It was written by this Father Errasto Fernandes. Unfortunately, I have spend up all my money in my pockets, and it lefts 4 dollars only :p. But I really wanted to read the books because I really wanted to know more on the Eucharist, the sacraments that I receive and yet most I could not appreciate. After a while I realized that they give the books and CDs for free. Amazing ! We only need to give a love offering. And I give my 4 dollars to see what is inside the book.

When I read this book, I was touched and strucked as I read the chapter "Paschal Mystery". It talks about The Purpose of our Life. And What is Paschal Mystery is all about.

Next: The Purpose...
----to be continued