Wonderfully Made

By Ann Marie Eckert

You formed my inmost being;
you knit me in my mother's womb.
I praise you, so wonderfully you made me;
wonderful are your works!
— Psalm 139, 13-14

Benjamin John was born last week to friends of mine. Ben's dad said that his birth was the most miraculous thing he has ever experienced. Now he is a week old, and Ben's mom and dad can't quite believe how incredible he is. This is not surprising, of course. Most new parents have shared in this experience, each cherishing their own miracle.

I am your God,
you are my child.
I'm holding you close,
guiding your way.
If darkness surrounds,
know you're not forsaken.
Forever you are my child,
and I am your God.

— You Are My Child by Steve Angrisano

Just as Ben's parents are holding him close and guiding his way, our God is that present to each of us. We have been knit in our mother's womb by God, who has wonderfully made each one of us.

Ultimately, I think that is the core of the church's teaching about the life and dignity of the human person that we just celebrated on Respect Life Sunday. The church asks us to see every human person through God's eyes — as wonderfully made. God loves us before we have a chance to make something of our lives. God loves us when we are helpless, poor, blind, and sinful. And God loves each person, past, present, and future.

In the document Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions, the U.S. Bishops write: The human person is the clearest reflection of God among us. Each person possesses a basic dignity that comes from God, not from any human accomplishment or quality. This dignity cannot be diminished because of disability, poverty, age, lack of success, or race.

We live in a society that struggles to live up to the Gospel's call to respect all human life. While Jesus turned to the thief hanging next to him on the cross and offered forgiveness and redemption, the death penalty is still used today in the U.S. and other parts of the world. Jesus reached out to those who were the lowest members of his society (the poor, women, children, lepers, etc) and restored their hope and dignity, yet the poor or mentally ill are often blamed for their homelessness or lack of job. Jesus challenged the political authority when their laws were damaging to people, yet many Catholics don't allow their faith to influence their political choices. The psalm writers tell us that God knit each of us in our mother's womb, yet abortion ends thousands of those lives each year.

Each and every day we are challenged to make decisions that affect the dignity of others. But this isn't just a political choice for people in power. This teaching should affect how we treat others in the every-day moments of our lives. Wouldn't it be revealing if we each had a pair of glasses that we could put on for a day or two to see through God's eyes? Imagine the goodness and beauty that we would see in others and in ourselves. If we all had such glasses, I can't imagine that kids would be picked on at school, or co-workers would be stabbing each other in the back, or gossip would be a pastime in the lunchroom. Our children, spouses, friends, parents, neighbors, and "those people over there" would look very different if we saw others as God sees us.

Let us pray that God will open our eyes and hearts to the basic beauty within others. Let Jesse Manibusan's song Open My Eyes be our prayer today:

Open my eyes Lord, help me to see your face,
Open my eyes Lord, help me to see.

Open my ears Lord, help me to hear your voice,
Open my ears Lord, help to me hear.

Open my heart Lord, help me to love like you,
Open my heart love, help me to love.

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Spirit Compass reflections are developed in partnership
with the Center for Ministry Development.