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St John speaks about "the world", in many different ways, sometimes very negatively, sometimes very movingly. Today, we listen to his description of the kind of world upon which we should not bestow any love. The world which does not deserve to be loved is a most unlovely world, the world of greed and lust, the world of empty pride and everything that is false. Unfortunately, the world as we know it can often bear these marks. At other times, of course, "the world" means something very positive and beautiful for John: "God loved the world in this particular way that he gave his only Son" (Jn. 3:16). This the world as it was meant to be: a world that God could love, a world fitting to receive the Son of God made flesh. In such a world there would have been room at the inn for Joseph and Mary. In such a world, all the poor would have been welcomed and not dismissed to a cave or to the roadsides of our cities and towns. In such a world, Christmas would not have been destroyed by greed. In such a world, all could have experienced the coming of the saving mercy of God in Jesus. Father in heaven, help us to love the world which You created and loved in Jesus. |
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P R A Y I N G W I T H T H E C H U R C H
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That the celebration of the Jubilee may become the source of a new commitment in men and women of good will to protect and promote human life.
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In the threshold of the year 2001, it is our duty to renew our commitment to safeguarding the dignity of the poor and marginalised and to recognise in a practical way the rights of those who have no rights. This is the spirit of the new millennium which presupposes the following: The basic right to life which is inviolable which involves a positive choice for life. The development of a culture of this kind embraces all the circumstances of life and ensures the promotion of human dignity in every situation. Recent developments in the field of genetic engineering present a profoundly disquieting challenge. In order that scientific research in this area may be at the service of the person, it must be accompanied at every stage by careful ethical reflection, which will bring about adequate legal norms safeguarding the integrity of human life. Life can never be downgraded to the level of a thing. To choose life involves rejecting every form of violence. In every circumstance, the right to life must be promoted and safeguarded with appropriate legal and political guarantees. Let us raise our voices on their behalf. | |
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