Desire for God
"The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God" (Catechism of the Catholic Church 27). We all have questions about life, and the meaning of our existence. This desire to seek and find the truth about ourselves and the world is a natural part of being human. The opening of the Catechism echoes the poetic words of St. Augustine who said "our heart is restless until it rests in thee, Lord." A quick Google search of human history reveals the varied, and often misguided, attempts to find inner peace in worldly things. St. Augustine himself spent much of his adult life seeking worldly things: career success, power, money, and pleasure. Indeed, Augustine did achieve success and was a powerful figure in society, yet he was never fully satisfied. His heart was still restless. The Book of Wisdom says that sometimes we seek God, even unwittingly, "busily among his works" (Wisdom 13:7). In other words, we are prone to missing the forest for the trees.

God's Desire For Us
God the Father, who created us in his image and likeness, loves us and desires for us to be united with him in happiness. Sacred Scripture reveals to us the great love story between man and God, showing us who we are and where we are going. But there's more to the story than just what is written in the Bible. For nearly 2000 years the Catholic Church has taught that God's deep love for us is proven through the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through his sacrifice on the Cross, Jesus opens the path to salvation through his Holy Catholic Church. 

Transformation
By patterning our lives off of Jesus, who is the "leader and perfecter of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2), we are able to more fully receive the abundant grace God offers to us through his Church, especially in the sacraments. Embracing lives of prayer, worship, and service, Catholics become beacons of light for our friends, family, and communities. Joining the Church means letting Christ into your heart and mind and allowing him to transform your life and the lives of those around you. Whether you are young or old, un-baptized or fallen away from the Church, "now is an acceptable time" (2 Corinthians 6:2) allow yourself to be transformed in Christ.

Are you, or someone you know, interested in becoming Catholic? 

Contact

Tyler Castrucci, Pastoral Associate
513-385-8010 (ext. 119)
tcastrucci@stjohnsdr.org