Handbook - Textbook on Life's Purpose

HANDBOOK TEXTBOOK Jesus Leads Us to the Fullness of Life “We are created for a purpose other than drinking and eating. We all come from a God. Nothing is an accident in the creation of God.” Just like the hammer, only the inventor knows what the invention is truly for. In the same way l...

HANDBOOK TEXTBOOK Jesus Leads Us to the Fullness of Life “We are created for a purpose other than drinking and eating. We all come from a God. Nothing is an accident in the creation of God.” Just like the hammer, only the inventor knows what the invention is truly for. In the same way life finds its true meaning when is live according to its design.  The Designer is GOD. St. Augustine summarized it this way: “You (God) have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee.” What is the meaning of life? The meaning of life is found in fulfilling our purpose. The Bible does not directly tell of the meaning of life. But it does tell God's purpose for us, what He wants us to be, and to do. It is, then, in fulfilling the purpose of God for us that we find in our  In the beginning, God said "Let us make human beings in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the tame animals, all the wild animals, and all the creatures that crawl on earth. God created mankind in his image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and God said to them: Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that crawl on the earth: - Genesis 1:26-28  “Love has been defined in many different ways but sometimes misconstrued.” The love that Jesus spoke is a translation of the Greek word agape. It is not mere feeling of but real concern for the well-being of the beloved. It is deliberate, purposeful, unselfish love rather than emotional, impulsive, or self-serving love. This love is extended to all neighbors. Jesus Calls Us to Uphold the Gift of Human Life  Respect Is treating others as persons with dignity not for what they have but for who they really are. Why is human life a gift? Human Life is a gift because it is freely given by God. He is the One who created us and sustained our existence through His Spirit. In our every breath, we breathe the Spirit of life. Why is human life a mystery? Human life is a mystery because it is full of inexhaustible richness and beauty. In this regard, we have to remain humble before God's creation and realize it as His masterpiece. Human life is and will remain a mystery to us. It comes from Him who is eternal. Why is human life sacred? Human life is sacred because we are created in His own image and likeness. "God created man in his own image and likeness" (Genesis 1:27). What do the giftedness and sanctity of human life imply? The giftedness and sanctity of human life lead us in understanding its inviolability.  Jesus Helps Us to Overcome the Threats of Human Life “Love for others is promoting the welfare of others and causing them no harm.”  What are some common offenses against life? Some of the common offenses against life are murder, induced abortion, direct suicide, euthanasia unjust mutilation and unjust war. Murder Murder is the voluntary and unjust killing of a human being. This may be performed by act or by omission. By act, it means that the person does the unjust killing of the other person. Direct suicide Is the deliberate taking of one's own life. It is a great sin. It is murdering oneself. Anyone who commits suicide sins for … a) rejecting God as Master of our life, b) denying the very presence of God as Life- Giving Spirit, c) disobeying God of His command to love oneself, d) depriving others of his/her unique love and care; e) refusing to accept the moral judgment of his/her conscience to do good and avoid evil. Suicide is contrary to the law of Christ. It violates true love for oneself, others, and God. Euthanasia, Also known as mercy killing, is a direct termination of life of a person due to an incurable illness. It may be requested by the patient himself undergoing the pain or the ones attending to him/her. War War is a state conflict between two sovereign nations carried on by force of arms. War is unjust when it is done for wrong reasons like enslavement of a nation, desire for particular territory of no right, or pride to prove one's power over the other. When is it lawful to take life? Taking life is lawful in case of self- defense, heroic death, and just war. Self-Defense is the act of defending oneself causing the death of an unjust aggressor.  It is a natural inclination that one protects and defends his/her life and to prefer one's own life to that of another. But the person being attacked is obliged not to use force more than what is necessary for defense. If wounding the assailant is sufficient, it is wrong to kill him/ her. Heroic Death is endangering one's life or health for the sake of God or other people in order to gain heavenly favor. This is true with martyrs, priests, missionaries, doctors, nurses, and others who happen to expose themselves to danger in order to serve God and people who are in need. JESUS CALL US TO STEWARDSHIP  Care Is to empathize with the condition of others and seek their well-being.  Love and care for human life start in the family. A caring person sees the value of human life in anyone. A steward of human life recognizes the need to develop a loving heart and a grace-filled spirit.  How should we treat human life? We are called to be stewards of human life. To be a steward of human life means to care for it. It is grounded on the truth that this life is God's beautiful gift. And each one is called to value it.  For this, we, Filipinos, indeed have a very high regard for life. The family is the seedbed where we first learn and imbibe the values and virtues to ourselves. It is first in the family that we learn about life, its value and significance, sanctity, and mystery. We can understand the family in three things: Covenant relationship, domestic Church, and foundation for civil society. As covenant relationship: The family lives in love and mirrors the love of God to His people. They are united by love sustained by their communion with Him, the Source. With the present situations that every family faces now, with all the frustrations and ups and downs, neither wealth nor fame can keep them united except love. The family is the domestic Church: "By the grace of the Holy Spirit received in Baptism these are made children of God, thus perpetuating the People of God through the centuries."  As domestic Church, it is first through the family by the grace of the Holy Spirit received in Baptism that we receive the gift of faith and live our identity as adopted sons and daughters of God.  Through our family with the examples of our parents, elder brothers and sisters, we grow and mature in faith. It is where we learn to love others, share what we have, care for the needy, understand human weaknesses, and frailties, forgive those who wronged us, thank God for the blessings we received, and respect other's life and dignity. The family is also the first and vital cell of society: "It is the original cell of social life." The husband and wife are called to live in love and in the gift of life. The family serves as the foundation of moral values and virtues that a society needs.  "The family should live in such a way that its members learn to care and take responsibility for the young, the old, the sick, the handicapped, and the poor" (CCC 2208). Children learn to value human life and develop care for other people in the family.  What is the originating context of life? The originating context of life is family. Generally, from the day that we are born and become conscious of the people around us and the world we live in, our parents have been with us. They provide us all our needs. Everything we are and we have comes from them.  What should be the attitude of children toward their parents? Children should love, respect, and obey their parents. We can show our respect for them by reverencing them as God's instruments, accepting their advice and corrections, and by understanding their own faults and shortcomings.  Our parents are God's representatives, is. It is He who gave them to us. Whatever we become or achieve in life, we owe to them. The eye that mocks a father, or scorns an aged mother, will be plucked out by the ravens in the valley; the young eagles will devour it" (Proverbs 30:17).  We can show our love to our parents by trying to do what pleases them, helping them in the best we can, and praying for them. We consider their wellbeing. For all the works they do for us, we take the initiative to do what is good and right that we may not be an additional load upon them.  We can show our obedience to our parents by following them without question, complaint, or delay. We recognize their authority and believe in their words. We must not let pride of little knowledge and achievement make us believe that we are better than them. We are not in competition with our parents.  They can be our source of wisdom and strength in practical and spiritual matters. The fourth commandment stresses our duty as children to respect and honor our parents. How can we remain stewards of human life? We can remain stewards of human life by developing the virtue of love and receiving God's grace. A loving person thinks and does the well-being of the beloved. The lover continues and tries each day to care for his/her beloved.  This is what love does. It aims for the good and welfare of the person. To care for other people and their lives is never easy. There are people who seem to be unlovable because of their "not-so- good" attitude.  To remain steward in Human Life we have to develop love as virtue – a good habit. Stewardship is not just an act done with the situation calls for it. It has to be act lived everyday.