This Sunday we hear the gospel story (Luke 16: 19-31) of the rich young man, dressed in fine purple linen and “living life well.” Then we hear that his earthly life of privilege ends and it is time for eternal life, which will come to each and everyone one of us.

This Sunday’s story begs the question: what am I doing with the time God has allotted to me on this earth?

How am I living my life and what am I storing up in heaven, earthly wealth, power and privilege or am I filling my heavenly barns with good deeds, kindness, and charity? It seems in this very superficial world that the word “privilege” has become a pejorative word, a bad thing. But that’s just a culturally, temporary negative. It is less about the word and more about the usage of privilege that matters most. Whatever happened to Noblesse Oblige (the inferred responsibility of privileged people to act with generosity and nobility toward those less privileged).

It is about the manner of our life, let us then turn to the Beatitudes for guidance and direction on what are we supposed to do with the “days of our lives,” how do we fill our lives with activities of faith or form our lives based upon a faithful foundation? Now, as I am accustomed to saying in homilies: we don’t all have to do everything, but everyone is called to do something. So what am I called to do—and what will I actually do—with my time on earth and with the gifts and talents I have been given by God?

What is my obligation to feed the hungry, pray for the lost and wandering, or care for the sick? Will I spend my time teaching the ignorant on faith? Will I defend the teachings of the Church or will I acquiesce to the belief-de-jour of culture? I guess the bottom line is this: will I build my earthly life based on Truth or convenience?

Current polls state that abortion is the overriding issue of the day. It separates families, marriages and friends. And while it is certainly an emotional and personal issue, it is also a societal issue and one based upon a moral code that can and should be informed by Truth. What is growing in the human womb? Is it human? That should then form the sound decision to be made.

And—that conjunction is an important word: as a church and a people we cannot separate abortion into “IW and AW” (in womb and after womb); if we are a faith that is all about the dignity and protection of human life—the care for the whole person including all rights (right to health care, right to food, clean water, safe and appropriate housing, education and the dignity to work and self-worth) then the issue of “abortion” does not end with protecting the person in the womb. We must be about the care and concern of all peoples during the whole of human life, and we must demand that all governments that seek to be part of humanity and the civilized world must conform to and advance the “dignity and protection of all human life, from conception until natural death.” Period. With Truth on the table and not just opinions, we can at least have an ethical conversation and hopefully a national healing.