Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica. If you’ve never gotten the opportunity to visit this church in Rome, I hope you will someday. It is magnificent! The theme of today’s readings is the temple.
I want to concentrate today on something St. Paul says in today’s second reading from 1 Corinthians 3. “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.”
A lot of people wonder why the Catholic Church is so down on abortion, euthanasia, the death penalty and embryonic stem cell research. Really, you need only look at this reading. We believe that every person, from the moment of conception to natural death, is created in the image and likeness of God. The Holy Spirit dwells in all. We heed St. Paul’s warning – destroying life (or enabling or supporting that destruction) will lead to our destruction. That’s why Catholics are pro-life, and always will be.
Father, may we always value life at every stage, because you have created all in your image and likeness, and your Spirit dwells within. Amen.
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