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Matthew presents the parable of the lost sheep to indicate God's joy over one repentant sinner's return to Him. John, in his Gospel takes the parable further and has Jesus pronounce Himself as the Good Shepherd who is willing to lay down His life for His sheep (Jn. 10:11-16). Jesus assures us that God never gives up looking for us. Even when we are lost and turn away from Him, God actively looks for us, waiting and prompting us to return to Him. Our tendency to sin is always pulling us further away from His love. The many distractions that are present in our lives always entice us away from His presence. Everything in our modern social reality - power, money, status, pleasure etc. - can serve as a screen between God and us when we seek to avoid meeting Him face to face. Despite all this, despite all our efforts to avoid Him, God never avoids us, but always labours to bring us back to Him. Advent reminds us that God emptied Himself completely to become human in the person of Jesus to seek out lost humanity and bring it back to Him. Dear Father, help me to listen to Your voice calling me back to You. Amen. |
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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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