Why is the Catholic Church so against all forms of murder, abortion, capital punishment, and euthanasia included? Can we really believe that the life of a person who would murder innocent children is sacred? And is suffering to be preferred over a quick and painless death?
In the first reading today Job is in the throws of depression, and is wishing he had never been born. And yet with our hindsight we are able to see the value of his life.
In the gospel the disciples want Jesus to call down fire to consume the people who refuse to welcome them. Who gets rebuked? The disciples.
Yes in fact we hold firm in our absolute belief in the sacredness of all human life, and our belief that the sacredness is intrinsic. It cannot be lost, taken away or given away. And as for the euthanasia of the sick. I find it interesting that as often as I have heard the following quote from Cicero the first word is often missing
Aegroto dum anima est, spes est.
For the sick one, where there is life, there is hope.
Job like so many made it through to the other side or his depression. And we never know how many of those Jesus spared ultimately ended up in heaven. We cannot know the future. We cannot know what God has planned for another person and when.
We know that God wills that all be saved.
Today's readings remind us that in every circumstance we must be people of hope, and being people of hope we always choose life.
Here in Virginia as we pray for the families of Morgan Harrington, and Hannah Graham and her safe return, as Christians we must also pray for Jesse Mathew, Jr. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty and even if proven guilty, his life will remain sacred. He too was created in the image and likeness of God and is loved by God.
