In today’s parable Jesus describes metaphorically the lengths to which God has gone to make the world a beautiful, productive place that, in the right hands, should yield a bountiful harvest.  Unfortunately, many of us live like the renters in the story, respecting neither the vineyard, nor its owner.  We take more than we need.  In fact, we want it all.  That is why our world is ravaged by war, sickness, and famine.  Even in our own wealthy nation people live in poverty and children go to bed hungry.
Today we are in grave danger of losing our respect for the beauty and sanctity of life itself.  We have seen so much violence in the movies and on TV that we have become immune to the real violence in our homes and on our streets.  We live in a culture that has divorced sexuality from love and parenthood.  We seek instant relief from our pain and immediate gratification for our senses.  When some idea or principle becomes difficult to sustain we rationalize our way around it.  Thus terminating pregnancy is re-defined as removing unwanted tissue.  Ending life before natural death is called euthanasia or mercy killing. 
    It is not easy to live as St. Paul tells us "Your thoughts should be wholly directed to all that is true, all that deserves respect, all that is honest, pure, admirable, decent, virtuous, or worthy of praise."  If we did live according to Paul’s instructions would we not yield a more bountiful harvest?   

Our federal government continues to become more involved in health care issues.  While this cause is certainly worthwhile, there are many moral problems involved.  For 38 years our nation has been embroiled in a bitter controversy regarding abortion.  While the Supreme Court has upheld the value of individual freedom of choice, many of our citizens object to the use of their tax dollars to fund abortions.  Two important values are at odds in this controversy: individual freedom of choice versus the right to life of the unborn.  While individual freedom is important, it pales in comparison to another person’s right to life itself. 
    As scientific and medical knowledge advance there are more and more ethical and religious considerations involved in medical technology.  In addition to the question of when life begins, we are now faced with the question of when life ends.  Does an individual's life end when the heart stops beating, or when the brain ceases to function, or at some other point?  To what extent should medical technology be used to prolong life?  How should we distribute sparse medical resources needed to save lives?  Who makes these life and death decisions -- the patient, the family, the doctors, the government?
    Looking back on the last 38 years in this country, I cannot help but speculate on how much our inability to deal with the abortion issue has fueled the growing lack of respect for the value of human life at all stages.  If some lives are dispensable, are not all lives dispensable? 
    As government attempts to provide medical coverage for everyone, it will confront important medical-ethical questions.  These questions cannot and should not be addressed without the input of our religious traditions.  If we expect government to provide these needed services, then we must in turn provide government with the moral and ethical guidelines to apply to them.  Every life counts; speak out for life!