Written by parishioner Richard Ferger from the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children
One of the things I have learned over the years is that when you are tuned in to the voice of God and open to His will, you can expect the unexpected. I did not expect to be standing here today giving this reflection, but when Father James asked me yesterday if I would be willing to say a few words today, I could hardly tell him “NO.”
As I was going over the readings for today’s mass, I did what I always do, and that is to try to find a link and the theme that connects the readings together. Often it is easy, but today it took me awhile to find a common bond. After several reads and rereads, I made a connection between God’s promises to Abraham, and what is lawful or unlawful.
God entered into a covenant with Abraham whereby He said “I will indeed bless you and multiply.” The people of that time had become somewhat complacent in the practice of their faith and needed some reassurance. God’s promises were immutable, that is not to be changed or even subject to change. Unlike a contract, which is subject to change, a covenant is PERMANENT, FOREVER. It is impossible for God to lie and not keep His promises, even when we may not hold up our end of the bargain. Jesus is our HIGH PRIEST FOREVER, according to the oder of Melchizedek. “The Lord will remember his covenant forever.” We repeated that line several times in our Responsorial Psalm.
In today’s Gospel reading, we find the Pharisees challenging Jesus as to the lawfulness or unlawfulness of picking grain on the Sabbath. Jesus responds by simply explaining that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
Today we live in a troubled country in a very troubled world. Our country was founded on Christian principles and a freedom of religion, but not a freedom from religion. We honor and respect the dignity and sanctity of human life. Recently groups have been quick to proclaim that THEIR lives matter. Black lives matter; Women lives matter; Police lives matter; Military lives matter; the lives of school children matter; Christian lives matter; Jewish lives matter; Doctors matter; Nurses matter; the lives of the elderly matter, etc., etc. I could go on naming groups whose lives matter, but I will stop and just say that ALL LIVES MATTER.
OR DO THEY?
What about the lives of unborn children who cannot march around carrying signs or even speak for themselves?
In this country Abortion is “legal.” But just because something is within the law, does that make it right?
OF COURSE NOT.
The creation of human life is truly a gift from God. It has value and must be treated with dignity and respect.
Today, January 22nd, is a day set aside as a day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. As a people, we have no right to destroy anything as precious as the life of an unborn child. As Catholics, we join our brothers and sisters and pray for the protection of these unborn souls who cannot make their voices heard.
Following this mass, there will be a special service for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children right here in the Chapel. All are invited.
As Americans, we are only too anxious to stand and proudly sing “God Bless America.” Perhaps, before we ask God to bless America, we should ask America to bless God, and put an end to the evil of Abortion.
