Eagles and St. Paul

It's quite interesting what has happened in the last few days. Last Friday, the Bald Eagle was removed from the endangered species list. As, apparently, President Bush said, "What a great way to celebrate the 4th of July." Too true! It is great that our national bird has been revived from nearly becoming extinct. But, even in the NBC video news report, Brian Watts - a so-called "environmentalist" - pointed out that "urban sprawl is the new DDT" which had previously threatened the majestic symbol of America.

This begs the question: Which is more important - Americans or the symbols of America? Unfortunately, the presumed answer is not something we need to think too deeply about when we consider the holocaust of abortion that continues in our country. More unborn Americans have been murdered every year since the 1974 Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision than in all of the US wars combined. And yet, we are worried because we may lose a species of bird. Does this not concern anyone? Are we more willing to allow innocent unborn humans to be murdered than to lose one symbol of those same childrens' right to "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?" If you saw a wounded bird or a wounded child which would take priority?

Which leads me to the second point: As of last Saturday we are now in the "Year of St. Paul" as declared by our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI. I think most humans who are honest with their instincts would recognize that a child is of infinitely more value than an eagle - though some prefer birds to their own species to be sure. However, who among us wouldn't comment when someone sounds the alarm because an animal is threatened or wounded? Who wouldn't speak up because someone places more emphasis on a creature than on a human soul? Well, it appears many. St. Paul saw that we are of much more value than any animal. He saw that the whole world is being called by Christ to know the freedom of becoming children of God (vis-a-vis yesterday's 2nd reading at mass). No matter how great the animals, no one of them is able to receive the breath of God in the re-birth of Baptism. No matter how wondrous or majestic an animal is, no one of them has an immortal soul that can show love for other humans or other species as a human baby can.

It is high time that we Christians come to recognize the dignity which the Almighty and Triune God has given us as his children through our baptism. It is high time we protest against this world's impending preference for animals over our own species. We must love and pray for all those who would prefer to see this atrocity of abortion propogated in our country and yet place money and time in saving an animal. What a creature is man! We can be so diluted with our own perceptions of "conservation" that we entirely miss the fact that we spend millions of dollars on fighting birth defects and still we accept the horror of abortion.

We think we are a minority for believing in the sanctity of life, and yet we forget that literally milliions of other Christians in America, and non-Christians as well, are also for preserving innocent human life unharmed in the womb. We have the power of the Love of God on our side, for, so says the scripture, "He will bear you up as on eagle's wings (Ex 19:4)." And so in this Year of St. Paul, let us take up the standard of Christ. Let us never cease to fight the good fight along with this apostle to the Gentiles. For only as much as we allow ourselves to be placed in the service of Jesus Christ and His Gospel of life will this world change its priorities. This was summed up in the life and martyrdom of the two Apostles upon whom the Catholic Faith is built: Sts. Peter and St. Paul, whose feast day was celebrated last Friday.

As St. Paul reminds us, "It is not that I have already taken hold of it (the prize of eternal life) or have already attained perfect maturity, but I continue my pursuit in hope that I may possess it, since I have indeed been taken possession of by Christ (Jesus). Brothers, I for my part do not consider myself to have taken possession. Just one thing: forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead, I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God's upward calling, in Christ Jesus (Phillipians 3:12-14)."