On the sixth and the final day of creation, God created the most brilliant of his master pieces-the human body!! Comprising of billions of cells, tissues and multiple organs, all so intricately interconnected and perfectly coordinated, the human body is truly the crown of God’s creation. As the potter tenderly fashions the clay giving it form, purpose and existence, so God fashioned us in his image and likeness (Genesis 1:26-27) with a definite plan and purpose in mind. We are the work of his hands!! (Isaiah 64:8).

 

CCC 364 The human body shares in the dignity of "the image of God….. For this reason man may not despise his bodily life. Rather he is obliged to regard his body as good and to hold it in honor since God has created it and will raise it up on the last day.

 

In Psalm 139, King David declares his body as a wonderful evidence of God's creative love. For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.(verse 13-14)

 

Each human body is sacred-It deserves our protection and care right from its conception to its natural death.

 

CCC 1004 In expectation of that day (day of resurrection), the believer's body and soul already participate in the dignity of belonging to Christ. This dignity entails the demand that he should treat with respect his own body, but also the body of every other person, especially the suffering:

 

Reflection

• Do we ponder/reflect on God as ‘our creator’?

• Have we thanked God for the gift of our bodies?

• Most of us have been born with perfect physical and mental faculties. Have we thanked God for these faculties?

• Have we made prolife choices?

• Have we treated the body of another person created in the image and likeness of God with respect?

• Do we show care and concern for people with physical and mental disabilities?

 

Each human body is Unique-Each one of us has been born with a unique identity. Our physical features, voice, mannerisms are distinct from each other. We communicate differently through our vocabulary, actions, body language, facial expressions or gestures. Each one of us participates differently in the various phases of life, right from infancy to old age. And we do so with our unique combination of human skills and God given talents.

 

Reflection

•  Have we thanked God for creating us so unique and special?

• Do we appreciate our ‘God-given’ bodies or do we constantly compare ourselves to others?

• Have we ever wanted to look like someone else?

• Have we been critical of any part of our body and complained to God about our looks or our physical features?

• Have we criticized another person’s looks, features, stature, complexion etc?

 

My dear brothers and sisters’, we are special because God has made us special. He loves us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3). Let us not get into the comparison trap. None of us have been created subpar. Let us appreciate and praise God for the gift of our bodies and learn to see ourselves as King David saw himself-Fearfully and wonderfully made!!

 

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