New Life
If the words in Sacred Scripture were a guidebook for every individual created, we would only know about a culture of life, not death. “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27). “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19).
What are we not understanding about our human bodies and life on earth? The Old Testament refers to the word “temple” as a material building – the place of worship. In the Gospels, our Lord speaks of the temple as His own mortal body. In the Epistles, the word temple refers to the body of every baptized Christian, consecrated by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. If you understand this, then you realize that our bodies belong to God. We must strive to be a fit “house” for our Creator.
All lives matter! How can we question the meaning of sanctified life? Psalm 139 says, “You knit me in my mother’s womb, and I give thanks that I am fearfully and wonderfully made; my soul also you knew full well.” God’s love begins in that moment of conception; it continues to the very end of our earthly life, and into life eternal. “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:44).
My niece and her husband recently celebrated the birth of their first child – a beautiful, healthy baby girl named Quinn. Watching this new family begin life together is exciting. The same day our great aunt was admitted to a hospice unit, experiencing a new spiritual journey of her own. Dorothy was beginning the process of the passing from this earth, where she was blessed for 99 years, to a new and eternal life with Jesus. As people of faith we understand that new life was given to us by Christ’s dying on the Cross. “New” implies a nature very different from our previous existence. Do you believe in eternal life?
We should follow St. Paul’s advice to the Romans: “Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is acceptable and perfect.” What a beautiful gift we have in the birth of a baby – the beginning of new life on earth. The hope we will experience in the passing of life on earth into the promise of life everlasting is also an incredible gift.
We were blessed to have a family member live to be almost 100 years old. Most amazing is that Dorothy lived till the end of her days with an incredible memory. She loved sharing stories of her life and the lives of all those she encountered over nine decades. I do believe she enjoyed all the changes she witnessed in her long life, technology more than wardrobe and clothing.
Her interest in the lives of others kept her so connected and sharp. Mailing cards and written notes for all occasions and achievements was very important to her. One of her greatest concerns was that cursive penmanship would become a lost art. Her handwriting was impeccable, and she knew how important it was to communicate with written word.
I cannot imagine the changes my newborn great-niece will see in her lifetime. I pray that, like Dorothy, she will find peace in knowing that God created it all. And that caring about other people will make her happy and keep her young! Amen!
