EDGE: February 22

Image & Likeness of God:  The Dignity of the Human Person

OBJECTIVE: To understand that all are made in the image and likeness of God that each human person has dignity.

OVERVIEW: Understanding that all are made in the image and likeness of God is foundational to the understanding and application of Catholic social teachings.  Every human being has dignity, not because something we have done, but because we are created by our good and just God.  In Genesis, “God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness’” (1:26).  Because we are made in His image, our dignity cannot be taken away from us.  The Catechism affirms this:  “the dignity of the human person is rooted in his creation in the image and likeness of God” (1700).

Dignity, as defined in the dictionary is:  “the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect.”  As part of our Catholic social teachings, we come to understand that this worth is not about what country we live in or what our socioeconomic status is, but simply that we are God’s children.  We cannot purchase this dignity or self-worth – it is granted to us by our Creator.  It is a foundational principle that allows us to see every human life, from conception to natural death, as important.  This teaching calls us to reflect and judge all institutions and policies based on whether they protect or threaten human life and human dignity:  “The dignity of the human person requires the pursuit of the common good.  Everyone should be concerned to create and support institutions that improve the conditions of human life” (1926).

We are also called to reflect upon on own self-image and the way we treat others in our families, schools, communities, etc.  Many middle school youth have self-doubt and self-worth issues.  Because of their dramatic physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual changes, they no longer have a child-like trust in God.  Rather, they focus on what they think are imperfections, and feel unworthy of God’s love.  Our goal is to help them understand that God has not made any one “bad.”

In addition to our reflection about our own self-worth, we must also reflect on our attitudes an actions towards others. Our faith calls us to protect the dignity of others, especially those who cannot care for themselves.  This may include the person struggling with an addiction, someone standing on the street corner begging for food or the kid in your class that bothers you.  The Catholic social teachings remind us that every single person is made in the image and likeness of God, not only those who look, act or believe as we do.  We can help protect their dignity through the way we speak about them and to them.

Summary Challenge (Points to Remember):

1.  Each one of us is made in the image and likeness of God.

2.  Our value does not come in what we can do or what we look like, but rather it comes in knowing we are sons and daughters of God.

3.  Catholic social teaching reminds us that no life is worthless and all persons deserve to be treated with respect.

4.  This teaching also calls us to help protect and defend the dignity of all human life.

Psalm 139

O LORD, you have probed me, you know me:

you know when I sit and stand; you understand my thoughts from afar.

My travels and my rest you mark; with all my ways you are familiar.

Even before a word is on my tongue, LORD, you know it all.

Behind and before you encircle me and rest your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is beyond me, far too lofty for me to reach.

Where can I hide from your spirit? From your presence, where can I flee?

If I ascend to the heavens, you are there; if I lie down in Sheol, you are there too.

If I fly with the wings of dawn and alight beyond the sea,

Even there your hand will guide me, your right hand hold me fast.

If I say, “Surely darkness shall hide me, and night shall be my light” –

Darkness is not dark for you, and night shines as the day. Darkness and light are but one.

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! My very self you knew;

my bones were not hidden from you, When I was being made in secret, fashioned as in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes foresaw my actions; in your book all are written down; my days were shaped, before one came to be.

How precious to me are your designs, O God; how vast the sum of them!

Were I to count, they would outnumber the sands; to finish, I would need eternity.

If only you would destroy the wicked, O God, and the bloodthirsty would depart from me!

Deceitfully they invoke your name; your foes swear faithless oaths.

Do I not hate, LORD, those who hate you? Those who rise against you, do I not loathe?

With fierce hatred I hate them, enemies I count as my own.

Probe me, God, know my heart; try me, know my concerns.

See if my way is crooked, then lead me in the ancient paths.