Homily for Thursday
January 22nd 2015
“Jesus is
always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever
to make intercession for them.” The opening
line from today’s first reading reminds us that Jesus is able to save. There is no sin in the eyes of God that is unforgivable…all we have to do is open our hearts and minds to His healing
grace.
Forty-two
years ago today the Supreme Court of the United States of American ruled on a
case that opened the flood gates to one of the greatest travesties known to
mankind. That decision opened the door
to legalized abortion in our country and since that decision over 50 million
unborn children have been aborted. Today we come to here pray seeking God’s mercy
for that sin and we come to pray that hardened hearts may become aware of the
gravity of this sin and seek His forgiveness.
Jesus is always able to save, no matter what! He is always able to save.
Once again, our responsorial psalm is
“Here am I Lord, I come to do your will.”
What lead to this grave sin stems from greed, pride, and complete self-centeredness. As Christians we are called not to our will,
but His. Today as we remember those
precious lives lost may we pray that not only our hearts be opened but through
our intercession and trust in the Lord’s saving power others may be opened to
experiencing what leads us all to true
happiness.
For those who
attended Mass, you heard me say, that forty two years ago today the Supreme
Court of United States of America ruled on a case which paved the way for
legalized abortion in our country. Since
then it is estimated that fifty million children were aborted. Today hundreds of thousands of people
gathered in our Nation’s Capital to march and pray for the protection of unborn
children.
Abortion stems
from several things…greed, pride, and total self-centeredness. Since it has become legal I do believe fear
has entered the picture. For some
families the fear of raising a child on their own and in light of the economic times
fear of having another mouth to feed leads some to consider this devastating option. Today we are blessed with great organizations
such the Pregnancy and Family resource center, and others to assist families in
their need. Yet its root stem from
greed, pride, and total self-centeredness for we live in a culture that has
become accustomed of doing what one wants when one wants to do it. It’s not about doing what one wants when one
wants to do it…it’s about doing the Lord’s will and living for Him who saved
us.
In talking
about the fifty million lives aborted, we must recognize the total picture of
the devastation this sin has caused for those fathers and mothers who have come
to the realization of what they have done.
As members of the faith committed
to the pro-life movement we must make every effort to care for those who lives
have been impacted. If we ourselves know
someone who has fallen into this sin, we must pray for two things…that they
come to the realization of the sin and be open to experiencing His healing
love. Abortion has destroyed so many
lives not just those of the unborn child.
Some have noted that we don’t pray for the unborn in the petitions every
week. That doesn't mean I don’t pray for
the unborn or encourage others to pray for the unborn, but that was done
intentionally because as a confessor and as someone who has reached out to women
and their families who have had an abortion these public prayers can trigger a
reminder and cause them to relive the
sin…which can even drive them away from the Church.
I have had the privilege of marching
in Washington D.C. during my years of seminary and the early days of my priesthood. Since becoming pastor it has become a little
more difficult but I am still willing to go.
However, I must be honest, when I do go I am filled with several
emotions. First I am uplifted seeing all
those people spanning generations gathering together to march and pray for the
protection of life. It is an awesome
testimony. Then as I march, I become
annoyed and angered by some of the images I see posted of aborted
children. Brothers and sisters, if you
want to turn people off to the positive message, that’s how you do it. I am one who does believe it is important for
people to see the effects of abortion, but you put in a pamphlet with a warning…graphic
images inside. You don’t put it on a
side walk for children who join their parents on the March for Life or those
who have had an abortion to see.
That leads us
to ponder how can we effectively spread the pro-life message? Often times when I am there I think there is
too much talking. You know what is more
piercing today than ones tongue…SILENCE.
Personally more would be accomplished if we walked holding signs identifying
ourselves as pro-life without making a single sound praying silently to
ourselves as we march to the Supreme Court building. Words can be effective but sometimes what is
more is simply total silence. Imagine
being someone in the Capital Building where laws are made, and the Supreme
Court building looking at a crowd of hundreds of thousands or millions of
people standing outside their door. See they
are so used to people yelling at them that they tuned it out. Stand outside their doors silently when they
look out trust me they will take notice.
If we are
going to keep winning this battle then we must change our game plan recognizing
that words can only go so far. For our
ministry to be successful we need to stay focused and continue to center ourselves
on the Lord. We must be persistent
without becoming overbearing cooperating in God’s mission. In everything we must trust in God’s saving
grace and power. Moving forward let us
continue to pray for our unborn children, to pray for those mothers being
tempted and weighed down with the pressures of life considering an abortion
that their hearts may be opened to choosing the gift of life. Tonight
spend some time quietly before the Lord offering your intentions for the
protection of life and as we leave here tonight in honor of those lives
effected I invite us to consider doing one thing that will make a difference in
someone’s life whether that be making one extra holy hour in the chapel for the
protection of the unborn or making a donation to Pregnancy and Family Resource
Center. Please consider it! We will now spend the rest of our time in
silence in honor of those lives lost and remembering those lives effects, and
allowing ourselves to ponder this great truth that every life is sacred.
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