The meaning of life by the numbers

Man has always sought the meaning of life. Douglas Adams (Hitchhikers Guide to the Universe) says the answer to the meaning of life is found in the number "42". I think he was off by a factor of seven. The meaning of life is found in the number "6" as in Baltimore Catechism question #6:

Question: Why did God make you?
Answer: God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in the next.

In Sunday's Gospel (Lk 21: 5-19) Jesus steers us towards what is truly important in life:

While some people were speaking about
how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings,
Jesus said, "All that you see here--
the days will come when there will not be left
a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down."

Jesus reminds us that there will come a time when all the trapping of this earthly life will be meaningless. The question then will be, "Did you live your life in a way that knows God, loves God, and serves God? If you did, then you will be truly happy with God for all eternity.

"Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand,
for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking
that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.
You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends,
and they will put some of you to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
By your perseverance you will secure your lives."

Eternity is a very long time. Is rejection of God in the pursuit of momentary worldly fame, fortune, or simply comfort really worth an eternity without God? The intuitive answer is "Of course not!" Yet our fallen human nature makes the wrong choices over and over again. So as we approach the upcoming Advent season, let us clothe our hearts in the purple of repentance. Let us recommit to know, love, and serve God in every thought, word, and deed. Let us persevere in faith.