The dignity of the individual

When there is so much abuse in the world in one way or another, it is very important that we stand for the dignity of the individual. The abuse may be blatant, such as persecution, or it may be subtle, such as bad attitudes or comments. Pope John Paul 11 said: “Nothing surpasses the greatness or dignity of a human person! Each one of us is of value to God and ought to be of value to others.” Trevor Huddleston, who spoke and wrote against Apartheid, once said: “We must recognize that the motives and forces behind racism are the anti-Christ, denying than man (humankind) is made in the divine image.”

The Sunday School teacher had ended her Bible story and was asking questions of her primary tots. “Why do you think that God loves us all so very much?” she asked. There was a momentary silence as the children wrinkled their brows and thought hard for the proper answer. Suddenly, little Kristine’s hand shot up. And, without the slightest doubt she blurted: “Because he has only one of each of us.” Only one of each of us!

Blaise Pascal once said about human existence: “Our whole dignity lies but in this - the faculty of thinking. Let us think well.”

St Paul writes in the Epistle to the Romans about any form of persecution against the early Christians. He argues that God has shown his love by sending his Son, Jesus, to die for us and rise again and to always support us in heaven. He declares that nothing will separate him from the love of God. He writes in Romans 8 vv 38-39: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) states: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” What a glorious declaration!

Maximilien Robespierre (1758-94) wrote: “Any law which violates the inalienable rights of man (humans) is essentially unjust and tyrannical; it is not a law at all.”

The American Declaration of Independence (4th July 1776) says: “We hold these truths to be self- evident, that all men (human beings) are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

We have to guard our rights or we will lose them!

Hymns:

A child is black, a child is white. The whole world looks upon the sight. For very well the whole world knows. This the way that freedom grows, freedom grows. A child is white. Together we learn to read and write, to read and write. (David Arkin)

Gad in fod yn olau clir i’r cenhedloedd, yn olau clir i holl bobloedd daear lawr nes gwelo’r byd ogoniant d’enw mawr, O llewyrcha drwom ni. (Christ Christensen cyf Casi Jones.)

Prayers:

Hollalluog Dduw, sy’n galw dy etholedigion o bob cenedl ac yn amlygu dy ogoniant yn eu buchedd;

Caniatâ i ni gau ddilyn esiampl Saint Cymru a’n nerthu trwy eu cymdeithas, fod yn ffrwythlon mewn gweithredoedd da, er mawl i’th Enw, trwy Iesu Grist ein Harglwydd. Amen.

Grant us, O Lord to know that which is worth knowing, to love that which is worth loving, to praise that which can bear with praise, to hate what in your sight is unworthy, to praise what to you is precious, and to do what is pleasing to you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

May God give us light to guide us, courage to support us, and love to unite us, this day and for evermore. Amen.

The Rev John Powell

Former vicar of Cardigan