The Gospel of Life VI

Details: 19 October 2012

The final chapter of Blessed John Paul’s encyclical "The Gospel of Life" is entitled, "For a New Culture of Human Life." In this chapter he lays out a blueprint for building a new culture of life and love saying that as Christians we have a "duty to preach the Gospel of life, to celebrate it in the liturgy and in our whole existence, and to serve it with the various programs and structures which support and promote life."

Recalling a previous chapter, John Paul cites man’s alienation from God, manifested by secularism, as the deepest root of the "culture of death." "When the sense of God is lost," he says, "there is also a tendency to lose the sense of man, of his dignity and his life; in turn, the systematic violation of the moral law, especially in the serious matter of respect for human life and its dignity, produces a kind of progressive darkening of the capacity to discern God’s living and saving presence."

Since the deepest root of the culture of death is alienation from God, it makes sense that the spiritual renewal through evangelization is essential to building a new culture of life and love.

"This involves above all proclaiming the core of this Gospel," John Paul II says. "It is the proclamation of a living God who is close to us, who calls us to profound communion with himself and awakens in us the certain hope of eternal life. It is the affirmation of the inseparable connection between the person, his life and his bodiliness.

"It is the presentation of human life as a life of relationship, a gift of God, the fruit and sign of his love. It is the proclamation that Jesus has a unique relationship with every person, which enables us to see in every human face the face of Christ. It is the call for a ‘sincere gift of self’ as the fullest way to realize our personal freedom."

We’ve all heard the phrase, "you can’t give what you don’t have." Therefore, transforming our "culture of death" into a "culture of life" starts by transforming our own hearts and souls. If we deepen our own relationship with Christ, we will be better able to radiate the light and truth and joy of Christ to others, and thereby transform our culture.

The culture of death’s degradation of human life has taken a toll on how man views human life. Vulnerable human lives, judged by some to have no "utility" are often seen as a problem or burden to be eliminated rather than as an opportunity for us to demonstrate love.

As a result, blessed John Paul says that "as a ‘people for life,’ our proclamation must also become a genuine celebration of the Gospel of life." "For this to happen", he continues, "we need first of all to foster in ourselves and in others a contemplative outlook" which "arises from faith in the God of life, who has created every individual as a ‘wonder.’

"It is the outlook of those who see life in its deeper meaning, who grasp its utter gratuitousness, its beauty and its invitation to freedom and responsibility. It is the outlook of those who do not presume to take possession of reality but instead accept it as a gift, discovering in all things the reflection of the Creator and seeing in every person his living image.

"This outlook does not give in to discouragement when confronted by those who are sick, suffering, outcast or at death’s door. Instead, in all these situations it feels challenged to find meaning, and precisely in these circumstances it is open to perceiving in the face of every person a call to encounter, dialogue and solidarity."

Finally, Blessed John Paul says we must "serve the Gospel of life. "By virtue of our sharing in Christ’s royal mission, our support and promotion of human life must be accomplished through the service of charity, which finds expression in personal witness, various forms of volunteer work, social activity and political commitment."

"As disciples of Jesus," John Paul continues, "we are called to become neighbors to everyone, and to show special favor to those who are poorest, most alone and most in need. In helping the hungry, the thirsty, the foreigner, the naked, the sick, the imprisoned--as well as the child in the womb and the old person who is suffering or near death--we have the opportunity to serve Jesus. He himself said: ‘As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’"

You can contact Greg at The Nebraska Catholic Conference, 215 Centennial Mall South Suite 310, Lincoln, NE 68508; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.