[Salvation]

March 14, 2010

Day 26 - March 14

 

Intention:

Pray that we fully recognize in the unborn child our brother, our sister, and we recommit ourselves to care for them.

Scripture:

Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?" The Lord said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground."

-- Genesis 4:8-10

Reflection:

After Cain committed the first murder in human history, God asked him, "Where is your brother?" He replied by saying, "I don't know."

In 1973, the Supreme Court was asked the same question, and gave the same answer. Unable to admit that the unborn children are our brothers and sisters, the Supreme Court said in its Roe v. Wade ruling, "We need not resolve the difficult question of when life begins." Boil all that down to three words, and it's, "I don't know."

The question, "Where is your brother?" will be asked at the final judgment. Each person will answer it and be judged by it. May we be judged to have recognized and loved all our brothers and sisters, born and unborn.

By participating in the 40 Days for Life, we have been answering that question each day, going to where our brothers and sisters are killed, and proclaiming that we have a responsibility to them. By all the pro-life work we will continue to do, we likewise answer that question which reaches from one end of human history to the other.

Prayer:

Father, today we hear your voice, and we respond to the question you ask each of us: "Where is your brother?" We recognize in the unborn child our brother, our sister, and we recommit ourselves today to care for them. Yes, Father, you have entrusted us to the care of one another. We rejoice that you have given us the grace to respond. As we work to renew our culture, we look forward to the great day of the coming of your Son, when every eye will see him, even of those who pierced him, and every knee shall bend, and every tongue confess, to the glory of God the Father, that Jesus Christ is Lord! Amen.

Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life and President, National Pro-life Religious Council

[Salvation]

Today’s email sent shivers throughout my body — a testimony about a pray-er who can no longer be there!

The 40 Days for Life team in El Paso, Texas recently
shared Cristina’s story about a very special woman.

Simply put, Cristina said her friend Espy “is one of
the best sidewalk counselors that I have ever met. I
have seen miracles happen through Espy’s work outside
of the abortion clinic.”

In 12 years of serving as a sidewalk counselor, Espy
always seemed to have exactly the right thing to say
in any situation ... whether she was speaking to a
woman seeking an abortion, to someone suffering in
the wake of an abortion — or to a member of the
abortion center staff.

In regard to the abortion workers, Espy learned how
powerful love is. “Love is the way,” she would say.

“She has given a smile to abortion clinic workers and
even hugs,” Cristina said. “Not just that, but she has
been there to listen to the clinic workers as they
shared their personal problems.” These people know
that Espy loves them and prays for them.

“She has given her life to the pro-life ministry,”
Cristina said.

But Espy hadn’t been seen on the sidewalk for quite
a while. About a year ago, she had a stroke. She uses
a wheel chair and has difficulty speaking now, but
in spite of the challenges she will tell you, “God
is good.”

Staff members at the facility have noticed Espy’s
absence and have told prayer vigil participants that
they were worried about her. Just last week, Espy
asked Cristina to take her to the abortion center
so she could say hi.

“I called the clinic administrator and let her know
that Espy was outside waiting to see all of them,”
said Cristina. “To my surprise, the workers walked
outside to meet us! Espy with all her heart wanted to
give them a hug and a kiss, so she did — and they did,
too! Espy was crying — and they were crying, too.”

They gave her many hugs of love and respect. The
director, the one that used to confront Espy and
the one that used to tell her, “Go home!” now told
her, “Espy we miss you. When are we going to see you
outside again?”

“This was a miracle,” said Cristina; “a miracle of
love. Espy is still working; God is still using Espy
to show His love, His mercy, His power. Espy is an
example to all of us that want to follow God’s plan.

“She is an example that God is working. God is
teaching. God is transforming. God is converting. God
is alive inside those places of death. God is alive in
Espy! May God bless Espy and the abortion providers that
they together with us see Jesus one day, face to face!”

By the way, Espy’s full name is Esperanza. The English
translation of this beautiful Spanish name — Hope!