Monday of the
Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
(Colossians 2:24-2:3; Luke 6:6-11)
When I was told that my distant cousins had a baby using in vitro fertilization, I was disappointed. I wondered if they knew of the Church
teaching condemning the practice. Nevertheless,
I went to their home for a visit. Seeing
their baby girl, how could I help but bless her? This is the kind of reception that the
scribes and Pharisees lack in today’s gospel.
The scribes and Pharisees become enraged when Jesus heals
a fellow child of Abraham of his debilitating defect. Where they should have at least some elation for
the person who now has two hands to work, they only feel rancor for Jesus. Theirs may be a legitimate way of
interpreting the commandment not to work on the Sabbath, but it is hardly a
definitive judgment. No matter, they
still lack the love of God in their hearts.
The Church has judged negatively some scientific breakthroughs
that society acclaims. It does so not
because the Church is opposed to science but because often these advances are
made to the detriment of other human beings.
Using human embryos for scientific experimentation is but one
example. It means the annihilation of a
human life. Yes, we hope to see cures
for systemic bodily defects. But we must
insist that the cost of such advances not include the loss of human life or
dignity.
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