[Salvation]

Day 33 - March 21

 

Intention:

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:

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.

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

[Salvation]

Keep praying!

Vigil participants have seen firsthand what “choice”
is all about. They recently met a woman who was
arriving for an abortion appointment — in tears.

She already had a 15-month-old baby. She and her
husband were having financial problems. She’d had
mental health issues after the birth of her last
child and “could not handle another baby.”

As the group was assuring her that all the necessary
resources would be available, she admitted she didn’t
want to have the abortion. But as she started to walk
toward the parking lot, one of the abortion center
workers intercepted her and steered her towards the
building.

Vigil participants prayed even more intensely, some
even dropping to their knees.

One of the prayer volunteers then found the woman
behind the abortion center. She assured him that she
was just calling her husband to have him pick her up.

She said, “Those people in there do not care about me.
They only care about my money and taking my baby from
me.” She said she would be back to show the abortion
center workers her new baby — and to join the vigil.

As a testimony to the fact that 40 Days for Life is
making a huge impact in Toms River, vigil participants
have recently been joined by two women with “keep
abortion legal” signs.

Vigil participants have seen firsthand what “choice”
is all about. They recently met a woman who was
arriving for an abortion appointment — in tears.

She already had a 15-month-old baby. She and her
husband were having financial problems. She’d had
mental health issues after the birth of her last
child and “could not handle another baby.”

As the group was assuring her that all the necessary
resources would be available, she admitted she didn’t
want to have the abortion. But as she started to walk
toward the parking lot, one of the abortion center
workers intercepted her and steered her towards the
building.

Vigil participants prayed even more intensely, some
even dropping to their knees.

One of the prayer volunteers then found the woman
behind the abortion center. She assured him that she
was just calling her husband to have him pick her up.

She said, “Those people in there do not care about me.
They only care about my money and taking my baby from
me.” She said she would be back to show the abortion
center workers her new baby — and to join the vigil.

As a testimony to the fact that 40 Days for Life is
making a huge impact in Toms River, vigil participants
have recently been joined by two women with “keep
abortion legal” signs.

“It is so difficult to understand how they could
possibly rationalize and justify the taking of a
totally defenseless life, let alone promote this
killing so passionately,” Sandy noted.

“It becomes even more apparent the spiritual battle
we are up against.”

It’s also telling that these two have only been on the
sidewalk on warmer, sunny days. “Not surprisingly,”
said Sandy, “they decided not to join us on a cold and
rainy day while at least 30 people sacrificed their
comfort for the cause of life.”

Yes, it’s a sacrifice. It’s hard. But it’s important.
It’s necessary. And it works! Thank you for all you’re
doing in response to God’s call.