-Last Sunday's homily is available by email request at frete@saint-albert.org
-this Sunday's scriptures are at USCCB.org>
-I am preaching at Saturday 5:30, 8:00 and 11:00am Sunday
Status
Jesus Christ knows how to treat other people...like persons. Jesus sees every person not according to their status but as they are: as persons in the image of the divine person, His Abba. Even we believing Christians have a hard time seeing people for what they are: persons.
This is respect life month. We can expel a fetus from the womb (read: kill) because we don't see it as a person - but an unwanted pregnancy. We can ask our kids to suffocate us when we get "Alzheimer's" because we don't see Alzheimer's victims as persons - but as a burden. We can tell our spouses that we want to be cremated or don't want any funeral services because we don't want people standing around looking at us when we're dead because we see ourselves not as beloved person, but disgusting dead bodies.
We have a problem in how we treat people - even ourselves because unlike Jesus we forget or try to ignore that we are persons in the image of God. We need to stop that if we can hope to stop abortion.
Do you show any symptoms of this trend to not see personhood in those around you? In you?
7 comments:
Good points, had not considered it this way.
Driving can be a tough one...I'm all around "cars" and not people so it's easy to be all about myself by speeding, cutting in, etc.
Well Father, I am taken back to religion class, "What is man? Man is a creature composed of a body and soul and made to the image and likeness of God." I wonder why after fifty plus years I remember this but do not look at my fellow man with that thought in mind?
As a young women, I went to New York City with a girlfriend while she had an abortion. She needed someone with her and although I did not and still do not believe abortion is something I would ever do, it was her body and her choice. I was not a practicing Catholic at that time, I don't know if that had anything to do with my choice. My ideas have changed as I have matured, have come back to the church and embraced my faith. But my question is, abortion is murder, was I an accessory to a murder? Do I from a religious standpoint have to confess to a priest for absolution? Or is God knowing my heart and soul enough. I have some things to think about this week. I like reading your preps, they inspire some thought on my part!
I recently read a reflection that connected nicely with the Matador’s comments this week and it contained this line, “Living out our faith involves an increasing consciousness of the sacredness of all reality;” and it went on to say that we should express the truths of faith – our belief in the truths of faith – by the way we live. I liked JoyFuralle’s very practical comment about driving and the very real danger we all fall into about forgetting the “lives” that are attached to the cars. I think it’s that kind of realization I need to keep in mind in applying this reflection to all the events of my day – the way I interact with my husband and children (whom I could so easily take for granted), the way I treat my co-workers, the way I listen to anyone – especially to those with whom I might not agree! Do I really consider them as “real” persons – as sacred reality…all of the time?
After I read this blog, Fri I walked with "increasing consciousness of the sacredness of all reality" as anon 1 mentioned. I visited a customer who in past visits had been rude and crude. I realized in a flash that deep, deep within, almost unbeknownst to me, I had labeled him as a crude slob. Never thought of this guy as my brother, that we have the same Father, that he is made in the image of God. Lord have mercy!
Didn't realize the full implication of yesterday, and I think it will grow, but was hit with a quote today from a saint...Fr. Escriva...Being children of God transforms us into something that goes far beyond our being people who merely put up with each other. Listen to what the Lord says: Vos autem dixi amicos! We are friends who, like him, give our lives for each other, when heroism is needed and throughout our ordinary lives.
Amazing how God puts up with me and continues to lead.
I love all your comments, are excellent and necessary.
I wrote a couple of comments and I was ready to post... but I said to myself... this is more a confession that a comment..
This prep-homily did touch me big time and is going to give me a lot of time to reflect.
For sure from now on I will see people inside of a car, ... no just the car...::-)
Excellent point JoyFuralle.
Gitana
I really appreciated the "Pastor's Viewpoint" in the bulletin last week. Father makes many good points about how our society has "selective respect" based on one's power as a consumer. This is why society values a wealthy, successful person more than a less fortunate person on public assistance.
Also, he points out that "making a 'choice' is the greatest freedom and a right" that people feel they must exercise at all costs. Indeed, aren't authority figures less respected nowadays than years ago? People like priests, teachers, religious leaders, etc. are demonized because they interfere with our right to decide for ourselves what is right and wrong. As if, how dare someone interfere with our freedom to choose? When walking out of church, I have heard comments like "well didn't you feel lectured at??" People always bristle when someone tells them what to do. We all need to remember that priests, teachers, etc. are also made in God's image, and may not necessarily like telling us right from wrong, knowing it will not make them more popular. lr
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