[Salvation]

Yes to Life Still Works

March 25th, 2010 by Mary Kochan

Today is the Feast of the Annunciation.

For many of us this has been a very retrospective and introspective week.  The cause of life — the fight to make ours a country that values the unborn, the aged, the infirm – seems to have been hit a body blow.

Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards wasted no time before gloating with her supporters over the millions of dollars that would flow into their coffers by means of the Healthcare legislation passed Sunday.   And we know that millions for Planned Parenthood means millions for every other anti-family, anti-life, anti-marriage, and anti-chastity group out there.

But today is the Feast of the Annunciation and it is worth considering the simplicity and worldly poverty of Mary.  Arrayed against her, against the coming of the Messiah, was every earthly power intent upon maintaining domination.

Why do the nations conspire,
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the LORD and his anointed, saying,
“Let us burst their bonds asunder,
and cast their cords from us”
…
I will tell of the decree of the LORD:
He said to me, “You are my son,
today I have begotten you.
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron,
and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel” (Psalm 2: 1-3, 7-9).

All Mary did was say yes to life. And it was the defeat of all earthly power.

It’s hard to see when we suffer political defeat, when we are betrayed by false friends, when the work of years seems to evaporate before our eyes.  But yes to life still works.  Even this week babies were being saved by the steadfast witness of 40 Days to Life.

The future, we must remember, belongs to those who show up. Saying yes to life is a territorial imperative in the battle we are waging here on earth. But regardless of the setbacks, we can be encouraged.

Because today is the Feast of the Annunciation.

Today is the beginning of our salvation. Today is the beginning of the end of sin – including the sin of abortion.  Today is the day when yes to life was yes to Life. And so it always is.

And in the end, yes wins.

Mary Kochan, Senior Editor of Catholic Exchange, writes from Douglasville, Georgia.

[Salvation]

March 26, 2010

Day 38 - March 26

 

Intention:

Pray that we become vessels of hope to all around us, especially to those who minister in the pro-life movement.

Scripture:

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!"

-- Luke 24:1-5

Reflection:

This meditation, based on a sermon I once heard, is adapted for pro-life concerns.

It's Friday. Jesus is on the cross. He has been killed by his enemies; he is off the scene. But that's because it's Friday. Sunday's comin'!

It's Friday. Abortionists continue their work 3,300 times a day, tearing off the arms and legs of little babies and crushing their heads. But that's because it's Friday. Sunday's comin'! It's Friday. Pro-abortion groups receive blood money from billionaires who are as deceived as they are. But that's because it's Friday. Sunday's comin'!

It's Friday. Liars attempt to speak for all women and hide the pain of abortion, and ignore the evidence of how it harms women, and call abortion a blessing. But that's because it's Friday. Sunday's comin'! It's Friday. People of hardened hearts guard the clinics and usher desperate women in to have their abortions, while keeping them from the pro-life people who want to give them hope. But that's because it's Friday. Sunday's comin'!

Hope does not mean that we ignore or minimize the evils around us. It means, rather, that we see the whole picture, which is that evil is conquered because of what happened one Sunday morning. The power of sin and death has been broken by the Resurrection of Christ. We are called to proclaim, celebrate, and serve that victory, waiting in joyful hope for Christ's return and the full flowering of the Culture of Life! Indeed, Sunday's comin'!

Prayer:

Lord, fill your people with new hope. Make us vessels of hope to all around us, especially to those who minister in the pro-life movement, that as we engage in the difficult work ahead, we may experience the peace and joy that come only from you and that nobody can take away from us. We ask this through Christ our Lord, amen.

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