Ron Kelsey is the archdiocesan consultant for the pro-life office. You can email him at: profile@archkck.org or call him at (913) 647-0350.
by Ron Kelsey
The Christmas season provides us an occasion to reflect on the divine context within which to ponder the value of every human being. This is a critically important reflection at this time in human history because society as a whole has lost the true sense of the value of man.
God shows us the value of each human being in the most dramatic ways possible within his divine plan. Let’s look at his plan beginning with the Incarnation. At his incarnation, Jesus assumed our human nature and became a human being, while still retaining his divine nature. This divine act is beyond our human ability to fully comprehend and appreciate, yet what does the fact that God became a human being tell us about the value of a human being? At the same instant of his incarnation, another human being was elevated — again beyond our human comprehension — to become the Mother of God. What does this tell us about the value of a human being?
We also know that God’s dramatic and awesome plan does not stop here, although he has already revealed the infinite value of every human being. After spending nine months in the womb, an experience Jesus shares with each of us, the fruit of the womb is born. Thirty-three years later, the fruit of the womb, the Son of God, willingly accepts crucifixion, giving himself completely for the benefit of all, and dies for every human being.
As a result, each of us may choose to live eternally with God. In this eternal union and family relationship with God, God even shares his divine nature, thereby giving everything that he has for the benefit of every human being. God has obviously, resoundingly acted and spoken about the value of every human being.
In justice, he expects us to also value all human life. In the Book of Genesis, God says, “and from man in regard to his fellow man I will demand an accounting for human life” (9:5).
Yet, in our human weakness, our society rejects the value of human beings in so many ways. We even reject the foundational value of life. Hence, we have abortion, in vitro fertilization, prenatal genetic screening resulting in the deaths of human beings, embryonic stem-cell research, assisted suicide and euthanasia.
How do we correct these grievous wrongs? First, we must turn to Jesus. He will help us overcome our human weakness. We can ask for his help to align our will with his will. We also can approach the Blessed Mother and ask her to help us see Jesus in every human being, especially during this Christmas season.
As ambassadors for Christ, we can help others see the value of each human being.
