What is my purpose here on Earth? Okay, yeah we all could go ahead and quote the Baltimore Catechism and say: “To know, love and serve God in this world in order to be happy with Him in the next life.” Gosh sounds pretty darn easy right?? Not so much….


I mean c’mon folks let’s look at reality for a second. We all have hard lives, most of us are always in some sort of debt, whether it is our own or our kids ever so expensive private educations. So besides the monetary stresses of day to day life we also have family issues, job issues, and most importantly faith issues. I think it was easier to believe in God 1,000 or 2,000 years ago than it is today. There are so many worries, stresses, and reasons people make up not to believe in God. So today it is almost impossible to utter the word faith without asking for a scientific analysis to go along with the definition. There was only one doubting Thomas, and eventually even he believed. So why shouldn’t you?


Look, seriously folks did Christ really intend for there to be 38,000 denominations of Christianity? Thankfully, Catholicism is not a denomination. All of those denominations split from the Catholic Church. Although I am getting slightly off topic (which can always be dangerous) I would also like to add that Christ never said “You are Peter and on this rock I will build 38,000 different churches.” NO! He built one Church and through Tradition, the Holy Bible, and the laying on of hands it is one of the biggest religions in the world. This He intended, and this I believe in.


Anyway, now that you know where I am coming from I can get back to my original topic: What is my purpose?…or…What is our purpose? However, I am not going to be presumptuous and guess what all of your purposes in this life are. Instead I will just stick with me.


I work with many people that don’t believe in God. They tell me God doesn’t exist. Does that make me believe what they say? Sure as heck doesn’t! Do I even weigh what they have to say and ask if it is possible? Sure as heck don’t! Do I pray for them and hope they change? Sure do! Why? because that’s what we do as Catholics, we pray for those that persecute us. Boy, with this job that is a lot of praying! Maybe I should just make it my purpose in life to pray for nonbelievers and on top of that even try to teach them as well.


To tell you the truth I have seen improvements…very slight improvements that you would only recognize if you are good at studying people. Their goal is to make me upset when they make fun of my beliefs and even if it does, I can tell that they are getting tired of it. They know I won’t change, they know that no matter what the oppressive joke is that they shout at me, I won’t joke about it back. They joke about all sorts of things  but mostly unsavory priest jokes. Even my best friend throws in his own jibes at me about it. If I laugh at it also and say oh that’s funny, then I would be undermining everything I believe in. It would put me down at there level with all disregard for what I know, love, and have faith in.


So what is my purpose in this hell hole? I use hell in reference to the intense lack of love for God, sacraments, and graces that are here. I have to be the white light among the darkness spreading the light of Christ one word at a time, one day at a time. “Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone that demands you to account for the hope that is in you. Yet do it with gentleness and reverence.” (1 Peter 3:15b)