# Prayer at Holy Communion
*2008-05-20*

> Bill Young reflects on the true purpose of life and the importance of faith in the afterlife, concluding with a powerful prayer for the salvation of the world.

## The True Purpose of Life

I want to talk a little bit about the purpose of our lives. My feeling is that if we don't think about God and love God, what purpose do we really have in life? Sure, we could be famous or have a lot of money, but is that really going to bring us happiness?

I recently read an article about a very successful trainer. In her interview, she mentioned that she loves training and that it gives her purpose in life because she doesn't know if there is an afterlife. She is simply living for the now, without wanting to learn or understand if there is something beyond this life.

## Certainty of the Afterlife

For anyone who has doubts about the afterlife, I suggest going back and listening to one of my earlier podcasts called "The Saints Among Us." I definitely feel and know that there is a heaven. While I haven't been there myself, I am happy to talk with anyone about my belief in the afterlife.

## The Danger of Rejecting God

I also want to address the rejection of God. I once emailed a friend a podcast about intimacy toward God, and they responded by saying, "This is okay for you because you're religious, but we're not." I was very disappointed that they wouldn't even listen, and it hurt me.

We cannot just go through life expecting things to happen without acknowledging that there is a God. When the final judgment day comes, He is going to ask: "How did you love me? How did you show that you love me? How were you caring about me?"

Watching movies or YouTube videos is fine for entertainment, but if that is all our life consists of, are we really living it to its full purpose?

## Prayer at Holy Communion

This is a prayer I usually say after receiving Holy Communion, but I also like to pray it for all my friends across the web.

Oh Jesus, hear my prayer. Lord, be done unto me according to your word. Jesus, you came to save each one of us; therefore, I commend everyone to you: my family, my parents, my brothers, sisters, and friends, my community, and the whole world. Many do not even know you yet, but you came for them too.

Oh Jesus, the hearts of many are empty. They serve other gods; they destroy their own lives and those of others. I beseech you, with Mary and with all those who serve you, to give them the grace of faith. Many worship the evil one and serve him with all their lives, causing harm to themselves and to others. In mercy, Jesus, restore them to freedom so that they may adore you. Send your Spirit into the world. Enlighten every heart so that it may abandon the darkness of unbelief and the slavery of sin to enter the freedom of being a child of God.

Jesus, I adore you because you renew the world. Jesus, I love you because you are the Savior of the world. Jesus, I believe in you because you are the Redeemer of the world. Jesus, I adore you with Mary, who was preserved from original sin and all sin from the moment of her conception. You are the Redeemer of the world. I honor and glorify you, Jesus, because in Mary, you manifest the fruits of a full redemption. I glorify you, Jesus, because the marvelous light of your love shone in the heart of Mary from the beginning of her life. Oh, how beautiful her soul, always full of grace! In her, the friendship between God and humanity was reestablished and renewed.

I bless you, Jesus, because your mother has become the dawn of every new day. A light has shone since your coming down to earth. I bless you because in the heart of Mary you found a worthy home. Jesus, I honor and exult in you together with Mary, conceived without sin. Amen.

*May your hearts be surrendered to the love of our God.*