Posted on 10/02/2009 3:21:48 PM PDT by Faith
Let us affirm the unborn by our language.
SCRIPTURE
Anyone who says to his brother, "Raca," is answerable to the Sanhedrin; anyone who says, "You fool!" will be in danger of the fire of hell.
-- Matthew 5:22
REFLECTION by Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life
Before the schoolyard bully beats up his victim, he calls him names. This is a way to dehumanize the victim, and therefore make it easier to justify attacking him.
In this verse from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says that using dehumanizing language is sinful. "Raca" was an Aramaic term of contempt. The respect and love we are called to have for other human lives is not limited to action alone; it also has to manifest itself in language.
Professor William Brennan, in his book Dehumanizing the Vulnerable: When Word Games Take Lives, traces the dehumanizing language used to oppress various groups of people in history, such as our African- American brothers and sisters, or our Jewish brothers and sisters in the Holocaust.
He then shows that the same kind of dehumanizing language is used against the unborn, who have been called "parasites," "tissue," and "medical waste," among other things.
What are we to do instead? We are to affirm one another, including the unborn, with ennobling language that inspires respect and love. The unborn are precious children, they are our brothers and sisters, they are the image of God. Let us multiply the language of affirmation, as we hasten to the day of their protection!
PRAYER
Lord, we ask your forgiveness for any times our words have dehumanized our brothers and sisters.
We also ask you to send your grace to those who speak and write in degrading terms about the children in the womb. Convert those who do not see the dignity of these children. Loosen the tongues of those who do not know how to acknowledge the humanity and sacredness of these tiny lives.
Keep us all aware of the power of language, and help us to use it rightly in the cause of life and justice. We pray through Christ our Lord, Amen.
How great is Your love for each of us. Thank You for making us in Your own image. Keep us mindful of the needs of all people---especially those with no voice to speak for themselves. We bring each unborn baby to You and ask You to wrap Your arms of love around them. Protect them from the horrors of abortion and place Your beautiful love in the hearts of every parent. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Heavenly Father, we see the sin of Satan ... the desire to be as God. Bring forth those who pray and stand and work for the unborn, even as you bring down those who would take Your place. Rain down Your Holy Spirit that others might repent, and be changed, to the Everlasting Glory of Your Name, Amen ...
Amen to your beautiful prayer. Thank you, Pegita.
There are many places in scripture that teach about the sacredness of life within the womb, but none more beautifully than Luke's account of the Visitation.
Consider this passage from The Gospel of Life by Pope John Paul II Section 45: (excerpts)
The New Testament revelation confirms the indisputable recognition of the value of life from its very beginning.
… the value of the person from the moment of conception is celebrated in the meeting between the Virgin Mary and Elizabeth, and between the two children whom they are carrying in the womb. It is precisely the children who reveal the advent of the Messianic age: In their meeting, the redemptive power of the presence of the Son of God among men first becomes operative. As Saint Ambrose writes: “The arrival of Mary and the blessings of the Lord's presence are also speedily declared... Elizabeth was the first to hear the voice; but John was the first to experience grace. She heard according to the order of nature; he leaped because of the mystery. She recognized the arrival of Mary; he the arrival of the Lord. The woman recognized the woman's arrival; the child, that of the Child. The women speak of grace; the babies make it effective from within to the advantage of their mothers who, by a double miracle, prophesy under the inspiration of their children. The infant leaped, the mother was filled with the Spirit. The mother was not filled before the son, but after the son was filled with the Holy Spirit, he filled his mother too”.[36]
Consider also this excerpt from footnote #60 of the same work:
“… even before their birth the two little ones are able to communicate: The child recognizes the coming of the Child and leaps for joy.”
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_25031995_evangelium-vitae_en.html
Advocates of abortion claim that the unborn are of the human species but are not “persons”. Yet clearly from all Christian teaching the Unborn Person in the womb of Mary was the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. God became man, took on Himself the flesh of the Virgin. He became like us in all things but sin.
Whatsoever we do to the unborn, truly we do to Jesus.
Clearly the Baptist was already making known the coming of the Messiah! This unborn person was already living out his life’s calling. John the Baptist, who years later would be heard to cry out “Behold the Lamb of God” (John 1:29) was already crying out Behold the Lamb of God—silently, for both he and the Lamb were yet unborn.
What better place could Jesus have taught the truth of the sacredness of life in the womb than from inside the womb Himself. And how much more profound it is that He would teach this by communicating with another unborn person.
Excerpt from Lesson 1 of A Catholic Respect Life Curriculum--For High School College and Adult Study.
Excellent post, cp! Many, many thanks for sharing it with us.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
