TWELFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

On Purpose, With a Purpose, and For a Purpose

Before I formed you in the womb I knew You! (Jer. 1:4)

Today our world is full of confusion and relativism, and the truth is covered up by opinions and normalized behaviors that don’t conform to Christ’s teachings. Yet, for Christians, there is so much hope in today’s readings.

God created us and loved us before we were even in our mother’s womb. He knows us and always has and always will. He loves us unconditionally, always has, and always will. What a beautiful truth we get to hold onto in the world we live in today. 

I first heard about St. John Paul II's teaching of the Theology of the Body in high school; he was known as Pope John Paul II and lived among us back then. Throughout college and my time in the Navy, I delved into this beautiful teaching deeper, and now I am blessed to share it with our Confirmation students and youth groups. 

Today's readings are some of the scripture John Paul II referenced to help explain this beautiful theology and God’s plan for us. (For more on the Theology of the Body, go to theologyofthebody.net.) The Theology of the Body can be summarized in six tenets, which are: 

1. We are made in God’s image and likeness.
2. God created us on purpose.
3. We are made with a body and soul composition.
4. Therefore, what we do with our body matters.
5. God made us for authentic love; we are made to love and be loved unconditionally. 
6. Jesus came incarnate to earth to heal our brokenness with his sacrifice. 

God created us on Purpose, with a Purpose, and for a Purpose. Each and every one of us was planned before we were in our mother’s womb, and God has an unbelievable and beautiful plan for us, just like He had a plan for David, John the Baptist, and his disciples. We are not called to know or even understand this plan. Nor will our lives always be easy or painless. God definitely did not promise that. But God did promise that He would be with us at every moment and that His love for us endures forever. We each have a purpose and God was there at the beginning of this purpose, is here with us now, and will be with us forever. We must trust Him, let God love us, and follow Christ, who is the truth and the light.

--Charlene Sippel
Send Us Forth are reflections written by St. Matthew parishioners and friends.