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the gift of life

January 1, 2014

"THANK THE LORD"

... Let us thank the Lord for the gift of life in all its forms, and at the same time let us proclaim the Gospel of Life.

"POINTS OF MEDITATION"

... I would like to offer you three simple points of meditation for our faith: first, the Bible reveals to us the Living God, the God who is life and the source of life; second, Jesus Christ bestows life and the Holy Spirit maintains us in life; and third, following God's way leads to life, whereas following idols leads to death.

REALITY SHOW

The Bible shows us the human drama in all its reality: good and evil, passion, sin and its consequences. Whenever we want to assert ourselves, when we become wrapped up in our own selfishness and put ourselves in the place of God, we end up spawning death.

YOUR IMAGE OF GOD

What is the image we have of God? Perhaps he appears to us as a severe judge, as someone who curtails our freedom and the way we live our lives. But the Scriptures everywhere tell us that God is the Living One, the one who bestows life and points the way to fullness of life.

JESUS SAVES

Jesus is the incarnation of the Living God, the one who brings life amid so many deeds of death, amid sin, selfishness and self-absorption. Jesus accepts, loves, uplifts, encourages, forgives, restores the ability to walk, gives back life. Throughout the Gospels we see how Jesus by His words and actions brings the transforming life of God.

LED BY THE SPIRIT

The Christian is someone who thinks and acts in everyday life according to God's will, someone who allows his or her life to be guided and nourished by the Holy Spirit, to be a full life, a life worthy of true sons and daughters.

REALISM AND FRUITFULNESS

Those who let themselves by led by the Holy Spirit are realists, they know how to survey and assess reality. They are also fruitful; their lives bring new life to birth all around them.

THE WAY TO FREEDOM AND LIFE

... Let us look to God as the God of Life, let us look to His law, to the Gospel message, as the way to freedom and life.

SAY "YES" TO GOD

... Let us say "Yes" to the God who is the Living One and the Merciful One. Only faith in the Living God saves us: in the God who in Jesus Christ has given us His own life by the gift of the Holy spirit and has made it possible to live as true sons and daughters of God through His mercy. This faith brings us freedom and happiness.

(Source: Homily for "Evangelium Vitae" Day, June 16, 2013)