Deacon Mike Meyer / Sunday, June 14, 2026 / Categories: Blog, Homilies Infinitely Valuable Homily for the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A How much is a human life worth? Placing a price on human life may feel unsettling or inappropriate, but we do it all the time. We calculate the value of human life in determining damages in wrongful death lawsuits and when our government decides whether to raise or lower speed limits or require expensive safety measures in the products we buy. How do we do it? One approach considers the potential lost earnings the victim would have provided for surviving family members. A more compassionate, but highly subjective method considers non-economic losses, like pain and suffering and the loss of companionship. In the end, the value we assign to human life doesn’t really matter because our value has already been set . . . by God. Our readings make clear that in God’s eyes, each one of us is infinitely valuable. Our readings today focus on the special place humanity holds in God’s heart. In our first reading from Exodus, God calls Israel to be his special possession, a holy nation that will bear witness to God’s saving presence in our lives. Our psalmist invites us to join in praising God, whose kindness and faithfulness toward all humanity endure forever. Saint Paul, in our reading from Romans, reminds us that Jesus Christ died for every person, past, present, and future, even though we’re all sinners, which is proof enough that God really loves us. Finally, Jesus’ compassion for humanity is poignantly evident in our Gospel when he sends the Apostles out to supersize his work, curing the sick, raising the dead, and casting out demons. Together, our readings confirm that God thinks we’re worth his time, effort, and energy, that God loves us, and that through our being loved into existence by God, every one of us has infinite value. Cardinal Walter Kasper tells us that the unconditional value of every human being is the foundational truth behind all the Church’s social teachings. “This [value, this] dignity is given to human beings not by society, [juries, or government bureaucrats], but by the Creator and, therefore, [it’s] sacrosanct and inalienable.”[1] God determines our value, and no one can diminish it in any way. You see, God created us in God’s image, which means that all of us reflect something of God’s glory. And if that weren’t enough, God values us so highly that he became human himself in Jesus Christ to divinize us, to make us, once again, like God. What does all of this mean? It means that no schoolyard bully, no psychopathic employer, no abusive family member, and no vengeful ex can subtract from the infinite value that God has given us by creating us, loving us, and redeeming us. It also means that we have to respect the infinite value of every person. “Every human being is a subject of inestimable value, because he or she has been created by God and [is] destined by God for eternal life.”[2] Now, respecting each person’s God-given dignity doesn’t mean we need to condone or tolerate bad behavior, but it does mean that we need to protect every life from conception to natural death, ensure access to food, shelter, healthcare, and education for all, stand up against discrimination, racism, human trafficking, and exploitation, and treat every human being with decency and compassion, no matter what we may think about them. And every means every—the people we like and the people we don’t like; the sorority sister who stole your boyfriend 30 years ago and your best bud who never stops calling you by your childhood nickname in public; popes and paupers; saints and sinners—God loves them all equally, and so must we. Every also includes ourselves. As I’ve said, each and every one of us has infinite value in God’s eyes, so we need to see ourselves in that way, too. All too often, I encounter people who put themselves down, dismiss their gifts and talents, or neglect their physical, mental, or spiritual health. Whenever we do any of those things, we disrespect and dishonor the image of God within us. So, what’s our homework from today’s readings? We need to honor the God-given value of every person. We can keep it simple, though. I won’t ask you to start with the person who wronged you. Think of the gas station attendant who stands outside all day in the blistering heat or bitter cold. Give him a tip or offer him a Gatorade or a cup of coffee. Hang out with the kid who always eats lunch alone at school or who’s always picked last when choosing teams. Check in on your elderly neighbor who has no family nearby. Bring some food, or, better yet, take her to dinner, a movie, or even to Church! Last but not least, don’t forget yourself. Give yourself credit. Cut yourself some slack. Take a break from your daily grind, and most importantly, make self-care a priority. Remember the instructions: secure your oxygen mask first before assisting others. As much as we may try, our earthly efforts to place a value on human life are futile. All the actuaries, algorithms, and artificial intelligence in the world can’t add to or diminish the value of human life set by God. While we may have to deal with the values set by governments, insurance companies, and courts in this world, we should never forget that our true value is fixed and eternal because in God’s eyes, each one of us is infinitely valuable. Readings: Exodus 19:2-6a; Psalm 100; Romans 5:6-11; Matthew 9:36-10:8 [1] Walter Kasper, Mercy: The Essence of the Gospel and the Key to Christian Life (New York: Paulist Press, 2014), 86. [2] Robert Barron, Daily Gospel Reflections by Bishop Robert Barron (November 2, 2023), Word on Fire, https://www.wordonfire.org/reflections/a-ordinary-wk30-thursday/. While We Wait Print 148 Please login or register to post comments.