The majesty of life

The world that surrounds the high school students who came on the March for Life pilgrimage to Washington, D.C., Jan. 24-28 continually reinforces a stance that eliminates any fundamental truth and promotes extreme tolerance.

These young men and women:
 
1. Experience the pressure of believing that “What is right for you, is right for you, and what is right for me, is right for me.”
 
2. Are scolded for being “intolerant” and “hateful” because they stand up for something they know is true and good.

Reaching beyond themselves
The reason they boldly proclaim the Gospel of Life is driven by the fact that they are doing it as a community and for something greater than themselves – as church and for our God.

They witness to the fact that our church is not dead, but rather, our church is alive with young people who are tired of the defenseless and weak of our world incessantly being disregarded, devalued and killed.

Their faith in the Lord manifests itself through their reverence amid prayer and Mass, and it is from this source – from the Lord himself – that they are given the strength to continue seeking a life which mirrors the life of Christ.

These young men and women provide an example for each one of us. The members of our church are often being seduced by the lies which some aspects of our culture endorse.

If we desire a church that is on fire for the Gospel of Christ – for the Gospel of Fulfillment and Life – then we cannot continue to cowardly crouch back into the crevices of our own comfort.

Rather, we must confidently stand upon the rock of our God and trust in the work of the Holy Spirit in our church.

By doing so, we avail ourselves of the grace of God to undertake the mission Christ has entrusted us with – to have a radical, sacrificial love for each and every person.

We must follow the example of these students who lovingly assert that each person, regardless of race, gender, biological imperfections or age, deserve the opportunity to live – to ultimately love, serve, and know our Lord Jesus Christ.

Andrew Gutierrez is in his second year of theology studies at Notre Dame Seminary for the Archdiocese of New Orleans.