A reminder… some things you heard last week…

A journey, a process not a programme Distinct stages It engages both your head and your heart Change – growth – transformation -

conversion “Inquirers” It’s OK to drop out

In search of the meaning of life

RCIA SFX 2015/2016

The answer is simple.

Any spiritual journey is an attempt to answer the

question“What is life all about?”

Because, here’s the thing…You only get the one

life…Whatever you do…Whatever happens to

you…You have to deal with

it…You don’t get to start

over. Sandra Bullock in

some movie

Who Am I?

I am a human being

A curiousity I live in two worlds Spirit and matter Created in the image of God I have a

spiritual soul, intellect and free will. In me alone are spirit and matter

united: by my soul I am spirit, by my body I am part of the material universe.

How the world defines us (and how we are led to define

ourselves) What I do

What I have

What people think of me

How we are defined by God Child Beloved Destined to share God’s divine life St Ireneus of Lyon (early 2nd Century

saint) “The glory of God is the person fully alive.”

Jesus Christ: “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” John 10:10

There is no deep knowing of GodApart from knowing of selfAnd no deep knowing of self,

Apart from knowing of God.

John Calvin

The only way we can really see ourselves is when we see ourselves reflected back to us from the eyes of someone who truly loves us.

But the only One who can reflect back to us the fullness of our beauty is God, for we are made in the very image of God.

This is what we experience when we come to experience God.

What is the Meaning and Purpose of Life?

The Paradox Of Our Times

Today we have more riches yet greater inequality, fancier houses yet broken homes, more

communication yet less real conversation, more conveniences, yet less time, more medicines yet less health, we’ve learnt to rush but not to wait,

we multiply our possessions but reduce our values, we’ve added years to our life but not life to

our years.

Nearly one billion people worldwide continue to live on the equivalent of less than US$1.25 per day.

870 million people suffer from hunger,600 million people are obese.

1 in 8 people goes to bed hungry each night.

Every 15 seconds a child dies of hunger.

What according to you Christians is the purpose of

life?How do you know?

The purpose of life?

To love God and to love one another. This life is a preparation for eternity. We were not made to last forever and God wants us to be with Him and share His eternal life.

Therefore,God himself is the complete

response to all our questions about the meaning and purpose of life.

How do we know?It was revealed to us by the One who

made us – God.

We were made by God and for God and until you figure that out, life isn’t going to make much sense.

God didn’t put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He’s more interested in what I am than what I do.

That’s why we are called human beings not human doings.

How can we find true joy?

By nature and by calling, we are religious beings. We come from God and return to God. Everyone is created to live in union with Him. Our hearts are restless until they rest in him.

Thus it is only with God and in God that we find true joy.

FIRST IT IS A JOURNEY

SECOND YOU HAVE

EMBARKED ON THE JOURNEY

THIRD IT IS A LIFELONG

JOURNEY

G.K. Chesterton once observed that the process of “discovering” the Catholic Faith is most enjoyable, “easier than joining the Catholic Church and much easier than trying to live the Catholic life”.

Timothy Radcliffe OP

If Christianity is true, then it does not have a point other than to point to God who is the point of everything.

SHARING 9.00 – 9.15

Why are you here?How did you come to be attending RCIA?