[Mosaic logo composed of people's faces, with Jesus appearing at the centre.]

All people, no matter their physical appearance or mental ability share in the 'Imago Dei', in the image and goodness of God. This is a starting point for a celebration of our humanity. As people in the image of God, we each have an inherent dignity, purpose and valued place within the world.

A common experience of people with disabilities, however, suggests that they continue to face many physical, spiritual and social barriers in their lives. Unfortunately, due to a hierarchy of ability, lack of access to life and the nurturing of faith still exist. Disability challenges society and indeed faith communities to recognise that humanity is not based upon what a person looks or thinks like, but that they have the ability to reflect God to others and share his image with them.

Father Adrian McKenna (McKenna, 2003:32) writes: 'For Jesus, all people share in the Imago Dei. Throughout his ministry, Jesus reinforced the inclusive nature of God. He continually moved the boundaries of society, valuing those who live with disabilities', respecting them as unique individuals who have gifts and abilities to share.

The scriptures reveal God calling, again and again, to a diverse world full of diverse people. This calling is for every human person from the first moment they begin to be fashioned by God.

God does not make mistakes. He wills the fulness of dignity and life for everyone.

Within Catholic teaching, the dignity and equality of every individual is clearly stated in the code of Canon Law, the function of which is to assure order and unity within the Christian community.

In the Catholic community one of the most important canons celebrating our humanity is canon 208 which proclaims the dignity of which I have just spoken. This canon states:

'Flowing from their rebirth in Christ, there is a genuine equality of dignity and action among all of Christ's faithful. Because of their equality they all contribute, each according to his/her own condition and office, to the building up of the body of Christ.'

This canon reminds us that all people, according to individual ability have an active and equal place within the body of Christ. This is a totally inclusive statement. It says clearly 'within my body, all are welcome, all are perfect, all are equal, all have an inherent dignity'.

For the Church, disabled people participate in the 'Imago Dei', as Nancy Eisland suggests, not in spite of their impairments but through them (Eisland, 1994:101). Where disabled people are seen as mistakes, or as a punishment, an incorrect image of perfection arises and the full reflection of God is obscured.

The theology of disability advocates that within the life and mission of the Church and world, a paradigm cultural shift should occur, from a culture of doing for disabled people to a culture of doing with disabled people and then together towards a common mission of presenting the full and varied image of God to the world.

Disability beckons to you the listener, 'Come and explore where God exists within me. Recognise the gift I am and the contribution I make to the world, and please love and accept me for who I am not what I can or cannot do!' This is a basic desire for all humanity.

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To illustrate this, let me tell you Martin's story.

Martin is a young man from a parish within the diocese in which I work as a disability advisor. When Martin was born, June's comment within her conversations with God was 'Why me? Why did you punish me?' She couldn't understand why her child had been born with a disability. She took him to church every single day and asked God the same question.

One day, when his behaviour was particularly challenging, someone in her parish suggested that she didn't bring him to church anymore, and for her this was a rejection. Years went by. She remained aloof from her parish community and decided not to speak to God any more.

One day, when Martin was being particularly challenging in his behaviour, she just couldn't take any more and decided it was time for him to go to bed. As she took him up the stairs, Martin just continued to call her name. 'Mum! Mum! Mum!' he said.

When she got to the top of the stairs, she asked him 'What do you want?' and he said 'My feet are dirty'. So she took him up, put him on the bath, took a towel and began to wash his feet.

At that point, Martin went absolutely silent for the first time that day, and she rested in the silence, until he said, 'Mum'. 'Yes' she said. 'Do you love me?' he asked her. She said she couldn't look up, because she knew that if she did, she would see a young man of about thirty, with olive coloured skin and long hair.

He was saying, 'June, I know this is hard, but do you love me enough to serve this child, that he might serve my Church.' And today, Martin is the welcoming person of his parish community, and he serves mass every single Sunday, and smiles, and brings God to the people and people to God.

[www.dayforlife.org]

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