Title: Twenty Seventh Sunday Year C.

SANCTITY  OF  LIFE SUNDAY.

We read from the Prophet Habakkuk. And I will quote his words:

"How long, O Lord? I cry for help but you do not listen!, I cry out to yoy, "Violence!" but you do not intervene. Why do you let me see ruin; Why must I look at misery? Destruction and Violence are before me........."

Sounds Familiar? Would this be your Prayer or question to God? Or this is someone elses?

For me, though the Prophet wrote around 605 or as some scholars say about 597 Before the birth of Christ (B.C), it seems as if he is writing today. Things have not changed much. Maybe the methods of bringing about the violence and destruction have become more sofisticated only.The world today looks on helplessly as genocide takes place in many Places in the World. Still thousands die of starvation as mountains of Cheese and Milk pile up in other parts of the World. In many neighborhoods violence and Crime are the order of the day. The Sun Paper of Baltimore has on its front page those slained this year in Baltimore to be 232. Still our World experience a violent climate as foods claim lives of people in many Parts of Asia and Africa this year. We have not to continue this litany. One may join the prophet to ask. "Where is God in all this? Why has our God stopped to be involved in our situations? How can we believe in Him?" Given the situation in the World today some people hoped the End of the World was nead. Since 2000 when things seemed ripe for such an end, nothing has happened. There is a Swahili saying which is not easily transilated into English "Kufa sifi, lakini cha moto nitakiona" literarly transilated "Die I will not Die, But Suffer I will suffer".Often in such situations, people are reduced to a sense of Helplessness and Hopelessness.  

  The answer given to the Prophet by God is "Wait for it, it will surelly come, it will not be late..." Yes Lord but for how long will one have to wait? Is it true that your answer will be a favour granted? Special Faith is needed for one to be able to keep waiting in such situations. This is what the Apostles pray for. What is being asked for is a deeper and stronger trust and confidence that our God is near us, even when he seems so far away, that he will take care of his own. This does not mean, however that with such a faith Christian life will be free of all hardships and difficulties. Being a Christian, taking the Gospel seriously is never going to be easy. Unfortunatelly our God has promised us his loving care but he has never promised us a life free of pain, difficulties, suffering or even sudden and violent death. He did not even take the pain away from Jesus His only Son!!

        God is calling each one of us to take a moment and think what has been done for us and what God has given each of Us. The wait God is talking about is not and Idle wait as if everything will drop to us like Manna in the Desert. Take a moment to realize the gifts God has given to the World to bring about Peace in the World. God was not a fool to make us in His own likeness and Image. He made us so that we will take part in His Creating, Saving and sustaing Creation as a Whole. Our relationship with God is not like a business. Buying and Selling, giving and getting in return. Our God is not a Christmas Santa Claus who rewards Chrildren when they behave well as Christmas come near. NO. Our relationship is that of Total and Unconditional Love and Service. Our Joy and Satisfaction should not be  in what we can do to squeeze favors from God but in what we can give and share of ourselves. St. Paul in the second reading calls each our of us to "Stir into flame the gift of God.... The Spirit of creation and re-creation we received.

We can't blame God for the suffering and distructions in the World if we are not ready to become instruments of Peace and St. Francis of Assis prays. We can't blame God for the Pain in the world when we are not instruments of Healing in the World. Today being "Sanctity of Life sunday" let each one of us ask "How have I been an instrument in promoting the sanctity of life from its natural begining to its natural end? It means Human Life and the rest of Cration. Let us keep in mind that no matter what we do, we are ever in God's debt. We are merely Servants. We can't do more that our duty. Let us pray that we will be courageous and faithful Servants of God. 

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