“Then the Lord God formed the man out of the dust of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”
~ Genesis 2:7
Created in the image of God, every human life is sacred, contains inherent dignity, and has infinite worth. The Catechism of the Catholic Church declares that “Being in the image of God the human individual possesses the dignity of a person, who is not just something, but someone. He is capable of self-knowledge, of self-possession and of freely giving himself and entering into communion with other persons” (CCC 357). The Catechism continues: “The human body shares in the dignity of ‘the image of God’: it is a human body precisely because it is animated by a spiritual soul, and it is the whole human person that is intended to become, in the body of Christ, a temple of the Spirit” (CCC 364).
In our second reading this Sunday, Saint Paul reminds us of the moral implications regarding the reverence we display toward one another and ourselves. “Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God, which you are, is holy” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).
Created in His divine image and likeness, we share a unique bond with God to cooperate in caring for each other. Blessed with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we are called to protect, preserve, and promote all life from conception to natural death. Pope Francis attests that “the dignity of others is to be respected in all circumstances, not because that dignity is something we have invented or imagined, but because human beings possess an intrinsic worth superior to that of material objects and contingent situations. This requires that they be treated differently.”
Our ontological human dignity is indelible. The 2024 Declaration of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith Dignitas Infinita elaborates: “Every human person possesses an infinite dignity, inalienably grounded in his or her very being, which prevails in and beyond every circumstance, state, or situation the person may ever encounter. This principle, which is fully recognizable even by reason alone, underlies the primacy of the human person and the protection of human rights.”
The Catechism asserts that “Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains forever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end. God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end: no one can under any circumstance claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human being (Donum Vitae)” (CCC 2258). Acta Apostolicae Sedis notes that “By taking the interrelationship of these two dimensions, the human and the divine, as the starting point, one understands better why it is that man has unassailable value: he possesses an eternal vocation and is called to share in the trinitarian love of the living God” (N 8: AAS 100 (2008), 863).
The Second Vatican Council observes:
“The Word of God, through whom all things were made, became man and dwelt among us, a perfect man, he entered world history, taking that history into himself and recapitulating it. He reveals to us that ‘God is love’ (1 John 4:8) and at the same time teaches that the fundamental law of human perfection, and consequently of the transformation of the world, is the new commandment of love. He assures those who trust in the charity of God that the way of love is open to all and that the effort to establish a universal communion will not be in vain” (Gaudium et Spes, no. 38).
God loves us so much that he sends His only Son to provide us with a path toward redemption and salvation. Importantly, Jesus gives his life for the salvation of mankind, not for the salvation of any other creatures. As the Word made flesh, he becomes a living, breathing role model for humanity. He instructs us to communicate with God through prayer. He shows us how to properly order our lives away from worldly goods and power with an emphasis toward God. He proves to us through his miracles that with faith in God, anything is possible. He exhibits how to withstand hardships and discloses that God endures them with us. He demonstrates how we should treat one another with love and respect, how we should live our lives simply and modestly, and how we should always serve with compassion. Jesus illuminates our dignity through his Incarnation, preaching, and ministry. Dignitas Infinita summarizes:
“By uniting himself with every human being through his Incarnation, Jesus Christ confirmed that each person possesses an immeasurable dignity simply by belonging to the human community; moreover, he affirmed that this dignity can never be lost. By proclaiming that the Kingdom of God belongs to the poor, the humble, the despised, and those who suffer in body and spirit; by healing all sorts of illnesses and infirmities, even the most dramatic ones, such as leprosy; by affirming that whatever is done to these individuals is also done to him because he is present in them: in all these ways, Jesus brought the great novelty of recognizing the dignity of every person, especially those who were considered ‘unworthy.’”
Pope Saint John Paul II describes how Christ does all of this through love:
“Jesus did not only treat and heal the sick, but he was also a tireless promoter of health through his saving presence, teaching and action. His love for man was expressed in relationships full of humanity, which led him to understand, to show compassion and bring comfort, harmoniously combining tenderness and strength. He was moved by the beauty of nature, he was sensitive to human suffering, he fought evil and injustice. He faced the negative aspects of this experience courageously and, fully aware of the implications, communicated the certainty of a new world. In him, the human condition showed its face redeemed and the deepest human aspirations found fulfillment.”
Jesus Christ begins his earthly ministry by shepherding a flock of “lost sheep” that includes tax collectors and prostitutes. “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners” (Mark 2:17). As our Divine Physician, he comes to heal the souls of those who need his mercy, not those who are spiritually healthy. He illustrates that even scribes, Pharisees, and nobles need forgiveness. As we journey together, let us try to emulate the hospitality Our Lord shows to the least of our brothers and to us. Let us strive to serve as he does without judgement or discrimination. Let us be quick to confess and to forgive. God’s mercy is intended to make saints out of sinners–all we have to do is ask.
This week, reflect upon and embrace the qualities that make us human, such as our ability to love, our compassion, and our creativity. Recognize our strengths and our vulnerabilities as gifts that enable each of us to give and also require each of us to take. Through our relationships, we are able to develop our talents by serving one another. How can you use your unique human qualities to honor our humanity?
