One of society’s greatest problems is that people often fail to see their own worth and the worth of others. The poor struggle to recognize their dignity, while the rich and powerful often believe they are more important than everyone else. Wealth plays a role, but overall, society does a poor job of understanding the value of the human person.
Among all creation, only we were made in God’s image. Out of love, He sent His Son to suffer and die for us. God does not love only some of humanity; He loves us all. He may not approve of everything we do, but His love never wavers. He wants us to find true happiness.
When we pass a homeless person on the street, it’s easy to think of them as less than human. We avoid eye contact, refuse to acknowledge them, and dismiss them if they speak to us. Imagine living with that reality every day. What would you think of your own worth if others constantly looked away from you or treated you as if you were invisible?
Now picture the opposite: a wealthy man dressed in fine clothes, driving an expensive car, flashing jewelry, and displaying every status symbol. He can have almost anything he wants. People look at him not with disgust but with envy or admiration. Most of those he meets have less than he does, and so he looks down on them as tools to use for his own gain.
Pornography also attacks the dignity of the human person. Saint John Paul II once said, “The problem with pornography is not that it shows too much of the person, but that it shows far too little.” Many argue that pornography doesn’t harm anyone, but it wounds both the exploited and the viewer. When we reduce people to objects for our entertainment, we degrade their dignity and reshape our vision of others into things rather than children of God.
Gratuitous violence does the same. Taking a life should never feel easy. Violent games and movies often portray people as zombies or lifeless bodies to be destroyed. Watching scenes of human beings torn apart by gunfire can alter our perception of human dignity. The rise of active shooters is a real problem in society. Guns are not the true problem. The problem is the perception of others as bags of flesh instead of souls deeply loved by God.
This week, we hear the story of the rich man and Lazarus. Even in death, the rich man treats Lazarus as less than human, expecting him to serve. Seeing God in others is not always easy, but He created each of us in His image.
Be mindful of how you view others, because the judgments you make in this life carry into the next. None of us wants to be looked down on, marginalized, or dismissed, so let’s not do that to others. As Matthew 7:1–3 teaches: “Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.” Look upon others with love, and when you stand before your Father, you will feel His burning love for you.
