Gionieva Fraser, 16 years, St. Joseph’s Convent Port- of Spain
Prey or predator? Are we either or neither? As Christians, we are dutifully called to do more than just go to church. We are called to merge the religious with the spiritual and be true living witnesses to our faith. In today’s society, where many controversial topics challenge and question our core values, we must not shake our firm belief in God’s precious gift of human life. Abortion, murder, euthanasia, stem cell research, contraception, cloning and suicide are just a few of the issues that play with our minds and drown out the voice of inner God given wisdom. Often we are called to pause and reflect on the true meaning of life but do we listen to our hearts, our conscience or are we easily swayed by the dictates of the world? The simple fact is that we did not create life and therefore we have no authority to take it!
With respect to teenagers, the prevalence of engaging in pre-marital sex and in using contraception is on the rise. Furthermore, the repercussions of having a baby, especially out of wedlock are, undoubtedly, life shattering. It affects the social, academic, personal and even spiritual aspects of one’s life. Consequently, many teen girls when faced with this situation may feel trapped and so panic, thinking that abortion is the only way out but it is not. As Christians, we must believe that life begins at conception, that every life is precious and that the baby that a young mother may want to abort can one day grow up to achieve exceptional things or just live the life God ordained! If a teenager, or anyone for that matter, feels unfit to raise a child, then adoption is always a viable option. In this way, the child will have a caring family who is fully prepared to offer a loving and nurturing home environment.
In today’s society we are constantly bombarded and saddened by news of cold-blooded, premeditated murders. Although we have all heard the commandment “Thou Shall Not Kill”, we ask ourselves, why do people still commit murder? When anger is raw and uncontrolled and God is periodically absent from our lives, many may become so overwrought with animosity and rage that permanent, irreversible damage is often inflicted on others as a result of a momentary lapse in judgement. However, God says, in Matthew 5:44 to “love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you”. We must never therefore allow anger to consume us, because then we overstep our boundaries and tread into forbidden territory.
Euthanasia is also quite common in today’s society. According to BBC news, Euthanasia is defined as the termination of a very sick person’s life in order to relieve him or her of suffering. However, according to the teachings of the church, Euthanasia is nothing short of murder. Life News states that the number of euthanasia deaths in theNetherlandsin 2011 increased by 18% and 13 reported psychiatric patients died by euthanasia in 2010. Although persons may be suffering for months or years from degenerative or incurable illnesses, it is not in our power to relieve them of their suffering by taking their life. According to Our Sunday Visitor, ‘End of Life Issues’ pamphlet, we, as Christians, must try to view suffering as a “participation in the redemptive power of Christ’s Passion, death and resurrection”, and to see death, “as an opportunity for a final act of communion with Christ”. The article further explains that although “illness provokes a search for God and a return to Him…Christ has given a new meaning to suffering and it can therefore configure us to Him and unite us with His redemptive Passion”. Hence, as Christians, we must understand that life is sacred and that when He decides, our loved ones will return to their Creator.
Suicide is also becoming increasingly more frequent, especially among young people. To be living witnesses to our faith, we need to be strong, despite the ‘crosses, toils and disappointments of life’. We must ask God to give us a ‘courageous faith animated by charity’ so that we could turn to Him instead of the world. When we turn to the world, we often lose hope. But if we put our faith in God we are given a renewed strength and faith to face any negative situation. Committing suicide suggests that we have given up, and that we no longer believe that God could get us out of our situation. Instead, we must show the world that we are pillars of Christian faith, resistant to the winds of deception.
Other controversial and often seemingly plausible medical innovations, such as cloning or stem cell research, also trample on the respect for life. If left unchecked, we will soon be harvesting humans like something out of a SyFy horror movie!
It is thus clearly evident that we must be vigilant and never lose our respect for life. We must lead by example and show the world the strength of our faith as Christians. If we are not living witnesses to our faith, and instead take the easy way out, then this simply shows the world that we are easy prey…easy victims. Therefore, we must pray for the strength to always have respect for life and be witnesses to God’s love in every human being.
References:
BBC retrieved on Tuesday 2nd October, 2012 from www.bbc.co.uk.
Life News retrieved on Tuesday 2nd October, 2012 from www.lifenews.com
‘End of Life Issues’ brochure which was quoted from ‘ General Introduction to Fourth Edition, 2001’ and ‘CCC, 1501, 1505’
Legion of Mary prayers
The Gospel of Matthew from the Bible
