Page 167 - Built For God Handbook (Annotated and Explained Edition) - The Christian Edition of the Tao Te Ching - The New Evangelization - Pope John Paul II

101

The fact that our human hearts are restless until they rest in God, our
Creator, is an eternal truth uttered by Saint Augustine. This chapter seeks to
unfold this mystery confronting every human being. Those who have faith in
the eternal love of God will choose to foster life in all its forms, from simple
to more complex and finally human.

Those who lack that faith will easily be seduced by the appealing but more
superficial temporary goods of this world – possessions, prestige, power,
and pleasure – turning them into illusory goals, ends in themselves that
never satisfy, rather than seeing them as a means to a greater end. The
unfortunate result of falling for this temptation is to end up choosing a
culture of nihilism and even death.

Those who truly believe in the unconditional and everlasting love of God for
them will tap into an invisible, profound wellspring of hope and positive
energy. This allows them to live the paradox of faith – to find deep
meaning, purpose, and fulfillment, not in selfish grasping, but in selfless,
genuine, humble giving of themselves in service to others and to God, who
turns everything to the good for those who love God.

b
c
a Matthew 10:39; Galatians 6:7-10; Luke 8:13-14; 1 John 2:15-17;
d
e
Romans 12:2; John 5:24-26; Romans 6:1-10; Revelation 2:10-11.