126. Q. What do we mean by the “end of man?”
A. By the “end of man” we mean the purpose for which he was created: namely, to know, love, and serve God.
Have you ever wondered why we are here on this earth? What is the real reason for our existence? It's a question that has puzzled many people for centuries, and it's a question that each of us has to answer for ourselves. Today, I want to share something beautiful and profound from our Catholic faith that can help us understand this mystery of life: the “end of man” or, simply put, the purpose for which we were created.
What is the “End of Man”?
In the Baltimore Catechism, which is a teaching tool for understanding the basics of the Catholic faith, Question 126 asks: "What do we mean by the 'end of man'?" The answer given is, "By the 'end of man' we mean the purpose for which he was created: namely, to know, love, and serve God."
Let’s break this down a bit and see what it really means for us in our daily lives.
1. To Know God
The first part of our purpose is to know God. Think of it this way: God is like a loving parent who wants us to understand who He is, how much He loves us, and what He wants for our lives. Just as we get to know our family and friends through spending time with them, we get to know God by spending time in prayer, reading the Bible, and learning about His teachings.
Knowing God doesn’t mean we have to understand everything about Him perfectly—no one can do that! Instead, it means we are invited to discover Him more each day, to recognize His presence in our lives, and to seek His guidance in all we do. Whether we are busy with chores, working, or taking care of our families, God is always with us, and we can always talk to Him in our hearts.
2. To Love God
The second part of our purpose is to love God. Love isn’t just a feeling; it’s something we show through our actions. Think about how we show love to our family and friends: we listen to them, we help them when they need it, and we spend time with them. Loving God is similar. We show our love for Him by following His commandments, being kind to others, and living the way He taught us through Jesus.
But it’s not always easy to love God, especially when life is tough, or when things don’t go our way. We may feel angry or distant from God. In those moments, it’s important to remember that God’s love for us never changes. He understands our struggles and is always ready to help us. When we turn to Him, even when it’s hard, we are showing that we trust and love Him deeply.
3. To Serve God
The final part of our purpose is to serve God. Serving God doesn’t mean we all have to become priests, nuns, or missionaries. It simply means using the gifts and talents He has given us to do good in the world and help others. Whether we are taking care of our children, working in a job, or helping our neighbors, we are serving God when we do these things with love and kindness.
Service to God can be found in the simplest of actions: cooking a meal for our family, being patient with someone who is difficult, or offering a smile to a stranger. When we do these things with the intention of pleasing God, we are fulfilling our purpose of serving Him.
Why is This Important?
Knowing, loving, and serving God is not just something we do because we are told to—it’s what makes us truly happy and fulfilled. Just as a fish is happy in water and a bird is happy in the sky, we are happiest when we are living the way God created us to live. When we focus on knowing, loving, and serving God, we find peace and joy that nothing else can give us.
How Can We Do This in Our Everyday Lives?
Daily Prayer and Reflection: Start your day with a simple prayer. Thank God for the new day and ask for His guidance. Even a few minutes of quiet time with God can make a big difference.
Read the Bible or Spiritual Books: Find time to read the Bible or other books that help you understand your faith better. This doesn’t have to be long; even a few verses or pages each day can deepen your knowledge of God.
Acts of Kindness: Look for ways to show love and kindness to those around you. It could be helping someone with their groceries, being patient with your children, or simply offering a listening ear to a friend.
Offer Your Day to God: Whatever you do—whether it’s working, cooking, cleaning, or taking care of your family—offer it to God as a prayer. This turns even the most ordinary tasks into something holy.
Stay Close to the Sacraments: The sacraments, like going to Mass and confession, are special ways we receive God’s grace. They help us stay close to Him and grow in our faith.
An Encouraging Thought
Remember, no one is perfect, and we all fall short at times. The important thing is to keep trying and to keep turning back to God. He is always ready to forgive us and help us start again. Our purpose, our “end,” is to know, love, and serve God, and He gives us everything we need to do this. So, let’s take one step at a time, trusting in His love and mercy, and living each day with the goal of knowing Him better, loving Him more, and serving Him with joy.
May we always remember that our true happiness and fulfillment lie in living out this beautiful purpose for which we were created. God bless you!
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