Respect Life Sunday

 

October 4 has been designated by the US Bishops to be Respect Life Sunday because it is the first Sunday of October, which is Respect Life Month. October 4^th is also the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, which is celebrated in Church when it does not fall on a Sunday. 

 

Catholics are for life: we promote faithful man-woman marriage and babies. Sadly, this simple statement is intensely controversial in today’s world. Based on Scripture and Tradition, the Catholic Church promotes life-long marriage between one man and one woman. Holding this basic truth will bring accusations from certain members of our society which commonly include “intolerance” and “hate.” As Christians, our duty is to be faithful to the truth of the Good News and not to cave into current fashions and trends of public opinion or certain interest groups.

 

How can a college student be for life? First, we all need to have a clear understanding of our Church’s teachings and why we hold these things to be true for all. Our understanding of sexuality and marriage can be known through reason. We know that children are good for marriages and for society, that it is good for children to have a mother and a father, that it is good for children to grow up in a stable marriage, and that children, no matter what stage of growth they might be, have a dignity all their own and are never to be intentionally destroyed because they are inconvenient or unwanted. Yes, people do make mistakes. And when we do make mistakes we need to seek out the healing mercy of God who is all forgiving and merciful. The Church embraces all who seek God’s mercy!

 

Another way for a college student to be for life is to practice what we preach! If we profess to be Catholics, then we need to witness to this belief by living chastely. This means we respect our own sexuality and the sexuality of those around us. We believe that sexual pleasure is reserved for marriage. We believe this because we believe that there are two inseparable purposes of sexual expression: union and procreation in marriage. Or, in more common language we can say, “sexual union is for bonding and babies.” Sexual expression within marriage promotes the union of the couple and the procreation of offspring. This is good for society and our world. 

 

How can our beliefs about family and human life be credible if we are abusing the very gifts that God has given to us to build marriage and family? Physical sexual expression is sacred because it is a gift that God gives to married couples to bless them with unity and children. The one-flesh union of husband and wife images the total giving and receiving of Persons in the Holy Trinity. This is God’s plan and we can know this from the book of Genesis which states that man and woman are made in the image and likeness of God who immediately commands them to enter into one-flesh union and to be fruitful and multiply (cf. Gen 1:27-28; 2:18-25). Even if we are not married, we also can know this truth because God is love, and since we were made in God’s image and likeness, we were made to give and receive love. This is how we become ‘like God’, that is, by giving and receiving love. Marital love is one way humans image God’s love. Any act of self-donation for the benefit of others reveals God’s love. 

 

For those of us not currently in a marriage, we are called to give and receive love in a celibate way, that is, a sexually non-physical way. Our sexuality points us towards God (being made in His image and likeness) and thus orienting our sexuality towards God helps us to become holy. Through healthy relationships and the daily offering of our hearts and bodies to God we can live the sacrifice of generous celibate living with joy! Jesus speaks of this in Matthew 19:12, 27-29.  Jesus images this kind of love for us. Jesus was the most complete and fulfilled human ever to walk the earth, and yet he was celibate! This is why we draw close to Him and cling to Him with all our heart, mind, and strength. He fulfills us!

 

Jesus shows us the true meaning of human existence. He reveals in himself the purpose and the plan for human life. On the Cross, Jesus shows us that love involves a total gift of oneself, even to those who ignore it or despise it. That love freely offered leads to the power of the Resurrection.

 

Let us call upon St. Francis of Assisi today to help us to see the beauty of the Christ-child the way he did. In coming to love that Christ-child may we come to know the true dignity of human life and love. St. Francis Assisi, pray for us! 

 

 

Fr. Will