On the first Sunday of October we celebrate the Right to Life. Today’s readings invite us to examine life issues from various points of view. Our hearts resonate with the prophet Habakkuk who cries out, “How long, O Lord?” Our nation is involved in wars and terrorist attacks. Our children are murdered on their way to school, police are under attack, some citizens feel the only answer is to take up weapons and arm themselves. How has it come to pass that we are living in such a violent society? The glue that holds society together has begun to break down. We no longer share the same fundamental core beliefs. The most fundamental of the Judaeo-Christian principles is that life is sacred. This principle is enshrined in the words of our nation’s Declaration of Independence. In the second half of the 20th century we have witnessed an attempt to alter the meaning of this foundational principle. We are asked to accept the notion that protection for the right to life does not begin until after birth. We are told that before birth, a child is only a clump of cells, or a mass of tissue. Even during the birthing process the new “not-yet-a-person” may still be terminated. Only after s/he is born does s/he magically become a person. In the past few years we have come to accept the term “persistent vegetative state” for those human beings who do not show measurable brain activity. It should be obvious that when a person becomes a “vegetable,” the guarantee of protection for life should not apply. How can a person become a vegetable? Even when a person dies we do not refer to them as “vegetables.” Sometimes, we treat our dead with more respect than we treat the living! Many people go through life with setbacks. Some have physical or cognitive problems that may require assistance with basic life tasks. Does this make them any less human? Some in our community believe that suffering is incompatible with humanity. Applying the same principles of “mercy” they would apply to their beloved pets, they argue that anyone in pain should be free to end their own life with dignity. These folks confuse the consciousness of animal with that of human beings. Animals live only in the present moment. For them there is no past that was pain free, no future hope of escaping suffering. For an animal in pain euthanasia is an acceptable, if unpleasant alternative. Not so for human beings! Our consciousness transcends the moment giving us access to pain free memories and a potentially hope-filled future. More importantly, we Christians believe that human suffering, joined to the cross of our Savior, can be redemptive. With St. Paul we can fill up what is lacking in the suffering of Christ on behalf of his body, the church (Col 1:24b).
In today’s readings Jesus reminds us to “keep the faith.” Faith opens our eyes to possibilities the world cannot see! Faith is a gift from God, but like a muscle, it only grows stronger with frequent exercise. Paul encourages Timothy to stir into flame the gift of God. Paul claims God does not give his disciples a spirit of cowardice, but a spirit of power and self-control. It is God who equips us to be witnesses of the teachings of Christ and to share in the hardship of the gospel. The culture we live in today does not accept our basic principles, so we must evangelize, like St. Paul, St. Hilary, the Holy Father, and the bishops. We cannot be afraid of criticism. Instead, at every opportunity let us convince our brothers and sisters once again that those inalienable rights were endowed, not by government or academics, but by the Creator. For until these rights are guaranteed for all of us; they are not really guaranteed for any of us.