MARK 1:35-39

Rising very early before dawn, [Jesus] left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee. 

Gospelthink: My purpose was to spread the news of redemption. Do I thank the Lord enough for my salvation, and do I tell others about it by my actions?

Young Hugo Cabret, the main character of the movie named after him was able to "fix" things. He acquired the art from his father who had died tragically a year before. As he told his friend Isabelle, he thought that it was his purpose in life. His reasoning was that the whole world was a big machine with everyone being a certain part of the machine. If that were so, then there were no extra parts--everyone was here for some reason. Living as an orphan within the walls of a large train station in Paris, Hugo worked the clocks of the station and on a machine called an automaton which his father had left at his death. Convinced that there was a message connected with it, Hugo felt that his purpose in life at that time was to discover the message. As he did it, he came into the acquaintance of someone that he felt he could "fix." The person was none other than one of the greatest original movie artists of all time, Mr. Georges Melies.

With thinking that went far beyond his years, young Hugo Cabret knew that he had a purpose in life. He was not at all sure of what it was, but he knew that like his father, he had the ability to repair machines. It was the guiding thought of his young years, and it led him to an adventure that was to conclude in finally helping another. The stress of this beginning session of the movie, however, was that he along with his friend Isabelle was able to understand that they had a purpose in the first place.

Jesus spoke about his purpose in life during his public ministry. At the very beginning of his ministry, the evangelist Mark remarks that Jesus' ministry revolved around preaching and driving out demons. Translated into the language of religion, it meant that his purpose was to preach the good news that he had received from God, and to help those who were less fortunate than others. He spent his life carrying out such a purpose.

It leads us to wonder about our own purpose in life. What is the basic reason for our existence? Why are we here? The Christian is taught from the very beginning of life that we were created by God and created to be happy in this life using God as a guide and to live with our creator in the next life. Such is the answer of a person who believes in God.

Therefore, our purpose in life revolves around two things. If we are to be people who matter at all, we have to be concerned about the evil around us, doing what we can to get rid of it, especially if we are responsible. And we have to "preach," especially by our actions, that God is alive in our world. In fact, our actions should always proclaim that God is alive now and everyone of us has the chance to be with God forever. 

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, your Son reminded us that our purpose in life lies in bringing you into our lives more and more by being good to others and chasing away evil. Give us the grace to live our lives with you here on earth in such a way as to enjoy your presence forever in heaven. Be with us, we pray. 

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: We all have a purpose in life and we are continually seeking it out.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 60 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. The human Jesus prayed often in his life, showing us the importance of prayer. Do you believe that people pray "enough"? Yes or no and why?
3. In Mark's Gospel especially, we see that most of the people do not understand Jesus' actions. In your opinion, what was Jesus' ultimate purpose for being with us?
4. Project: make a presentation of "Jesus' purpose in life" as seen in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, numbers 512-521.
5. In general, what is your purpose in life right now?
6. In general, how do you think people would answer the question: why are you here?
7. What is the greatest evil around us that we must be concerned about?
8. Scene analysis: Hugo Cabret loses his father early in life. What can you do to help young people who lose a father or mother in death?
9. Dialogue analysis: Hugo says "Thank you" to the automaton, meaning, of course, to his father. Are young people thankful enough for what they have received? Yes or no and why?
10. Scene analysis: an orphan is captured in the train station and taken to the orphanage. Why would young people resist going to an orphanage? In your opinion, what are the good elements of an orphanage? What are the bad elements?
11. Analysis: the missing key is in the form of a "heart." What is the deeper meaning of the symbol?
12. Scene analysis: Hugo loses his temper when he thinks that the automaton did not give him an answer. How can a person help a young person who loses his temper?
13. Scene analysis: Georges' wife Jeanne at first resists bringing up the past because it obviously will bring back bad memories. In general, is it a good or bad thing to "face one's past"? Why?
14. Dialogue analysis: Jeanne tells Hugo that there are things that he is too young to understand. In general, can young people understand that the past has been a source of pain for the adult? Yes or no and why?

©2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America