1. Rebuilding the Culture of Death: Everybody’s Task By: Bishop Medroso, D.D. August 24, 2007 Cebu Midtown Hotel

4. ii. Jesus is the perfection (par excellence) of God’s plan for human life. He feeds the hungry, cures the sickness of the people, preaches the message of the Kingdom of God. But He also enjoins his disciples to work for food that lasts to eternal life, or to store treasure in heaven. He is always in communion with His Father (in prayer), but also in communion with his brothers and sisters, and takes care of their needs. iii. Human life is destined to share in the life and glory of god.

7. iv. We do not simply receive Christ in the Eucharist in a passive way; through it and in it, we are led to participate into the dynamic life of the Blessed Trinity. Just as the bread and wine are transformed to become the “Body and Blood” of Christ, our communion of the sacred species transforms us to become “One Body and One Spirit in Christ”. iii. The Eucharist is the memorial of Christ;

9. ii. The Holy Spirit is the power behind the dynamic nature of the Eucharist, it’s the same Spirit that we invoke today “to enkindle the hearts of the faithful with the fire of His love” so that all of us will participate in the task of rebuilding the culture of life. III. Everybody’s Task 1. To the Laity, St. Paul has this to say, “Stay sober and alert, the opponent, the devil is prowling like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour, resist him, solid in your faith”. And St. John adds, “Beloved, do not trust every spirit, but put the spirits to the test to see if they belong to God”. The apostles stress the need for vigilance and discernment.

10. 2. The Ordained Ministers. The Holy Father in “Deus Caritas Est” urges us to facilitate the institutionalization of the Church’s charitable activities. Charitable activities should not only be “seasonal” and “occasional”. 3. To the Youth. Follow the examples of Blessed Lorenzo Ruiz, Pedro Calungsod and Mother Ignacia del Espiritu who did not conform themselves to currents of the world, in stead showed the relevance of chastity and authentic Christian witnessing even to point of death.

11. 4. The Legislators. Let not money, power or popularity cloud your conscience and moral judgment. Please stop passing the so called, D.E.A.T.H (Divorce, Euthanasia, Abortion, Teen-age and Homosexual Marriages) Bills, which many sectors consider as anti-family and anti-life. 5. Civil Groups. Be agents for dialogues and catalysts for change. 6. Christian Families. Let the families be haven of peace, and a genuine cradle for life.