He observed: “When the sense of God is lost, there is also a tendency to lose the sense of man, of his dignity and his life; in turn, the systematic violation of the moral law, especially in the serious matter of respect for human life and its dignity, produces a kind of progressive darkening of the capacity to discern God’s living and saving presence…By living ‘as if God did not exist,’ man not only loses sight of the mystery of God, but also of the mystery of the world and the mystery of his own being…The eclipse of the sense of God and of man inevitably leads to a practical materialism, which breeds individualism, utilitarianism and hedonism” (Evangelium Vitae).

If we consider for just a moment the words of Pope Saint John Paul II in light of our experiences with addiction, it should be readily apparent that the scourge of addiction plaguing the world today is, in fact, just another face of the “culture of death.” For when we drink, drug, lust, gorge, hoard, restrict, spend, control, and obsessively pursue power, pleasure, honor, and wealth, we cynically and destructively abuse the sacred gift, dignity, belovedness, and worth of ourselves and others. We live and act “as if God did not exist.” We embody in our thinking and behavior the very same exaltation of self-autonomy and self-will that fuels the “culture of death.” In doing so, we lose the sovereign sense of God and the humble sense of self, and as Pope Saint John Paul II put it, we tragically undergo a “progressive darkening of the capacity to discern God’s living and saving presence,” which in my opinion is the very definition of hell on earth!

Today the Church calls us to pray for the rights of the unborn and give witness to a “culture of life.” As Catholics in recovery, I can think of no better way to fulfill this call than by a renewed commitment to our recovery and a rejection of the “culture of death” within us and around us. So, if you are new to recovery, give thanks to God who has called you to a relationship of love with Him. If you are struggling, consider ways to love and serve God and others, which will free you from the bondage of self. If you have relapsed, do not despair. Return to the inexhaustible mercy of God and begin anew in recovery fellowship. And if you are blessed to be in a good place in your recovery, “rejoice in the Lord always” for the precious gifts of sanity, sobriety, and serenity He has bestowed upon you as a beloved and unique child of God (Philippians 4:4).

Reflection Questions

• How has your life in active addiction represented a participation in the “culture of death?” How did your addiction(s) destroy the health of your body, the sanity of your mind, the intimacy of your relationships, and the grace in your soul?
• In what ways in recovery are you giving witness to the “Gospel of life” in Jesus Christ? How does working the Twelve Steps provide a living witness of the “culture of life” to yourself and to others?

Daily Mass Readings

First Reading: Isaiah 49:1-6
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 8:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
Second Reading: Ephesians 3:14-21
Gospel: Luke 1:39-56

Reflection by Pete S.