The image above from the USCCB (US Conference of Catholic Bishops)

“I came so that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
John 10:10

by Jennifer Wright, Editor/Writer

Every October, I hear a pro-life message at Church – and rightly so. I only wish it was more clear and more often! I’ve been blessed to hear some different angles to the 'respect life' concept, but for me, everything comes down to two simple Biblical truths:

(1) Humans are made in the image and likeness of God

(2) Jesus came so that we could experience the fullness of life.

One old, one new, but two parts of a greater truth. We were made for more.

The image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27)

We can see that humans are uniquely made in the image and likeness of God because we are like God in how we create, love, and choose.

We Create: Humans create because God wanted us to have the joy of creating – like He takes joy in creating us.

We Love: Humans are loving because God wanted us to understand the joy of loving as He does and the joy of being truly loved.

We Choose: Humans can freely choose rather than merely react because God wanted more than blind devotion. He wanted a creation that – like Him – could choose the good despite easier options.

Because of these things, we are more than the rest of God’s creation. We are set apart (a.k.a holy) to be like the Creator. That makes every single human life, short or long, rich or poor, sick or well, worth protecting, revering, and loving.

That we may live (John 10:10)

Knowing what we were made to be – creative forces for love and goodness – makes the gospel message even more powerful. We fall short of living out that creative ability to improve our world, but Christ came to show us how to step up. Like us in all ways but our sin, Jesus is the perfect example of true goodness and love that transforms the world. And just like in Genesis 1, He invites us to live in the fullness of how we were created.

Every life has the potential to be a creative force to make the world a better place – and Christ’s love and sacrifice make it possible to share in the joy of salvation forever. That’s why we care deeply for each child in a mother’s womb, and each mother carrying life within her. Both of them – like all of us – can improve themselves, their families, and their communities here on this side of Heaven. All because each of us is made in the image and likeness of God.