From the Pastor's Desk

Standing Up for Life

Last Sunday Fr. Abraham and I went to the Stand for Life on the corner of Route 110 and Route 25 in Huntington. We stood with people from our parish who were holding signs in support of life in the womb. Together we prayed the Rosary there for the unborn and an end to abortion. This year I was uplifted by the number of drivers who went by beeping their horns in agreement as they waved and held their thumbs up. The only objection I heard was voiced by a woman who drove by and shouted out her car window, “I hate you!” Is the tide beginning to turn in favor of life? Abortion has been legalized by our state and federal governments. But because it is murder and sinful there is no rest. I believe one of the underlying factors causing division and dissension in our government and among us as citizens is abortion. Once evil is legalized, it is defended by its supporters and proponents. If there is one lesson we need to learn from human history it is that those who defend evil become its agents. How can we sit back and see this as a political right or a protected freedom when more than 60 million have been performed since its legalization on January 22, 1973. The words of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt are magnified as he described the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 as a day of infamy. An abominable deed was performed that day that was corrected as Japanese Imperialism and Nazi Germany were defeated by Allied Forces in World War Two. How much longer must children in the womb be murdered before this evil is defeated?

In today’s Gospel (Luke 17:11-19) we see Jesus cure ten lepers. That was not only a disease that caused physical suffering, it also led to being ostracized because of fear of being infected by those with it. Yet only one of those cured came back to thank Jesus for the cure. Gratitude is at the heart of a good and meaningful life. The more we see how blessed we are to be alive, the more we give thanks to God for this gift. Our gratitude heightens our joy for God’s love and at the same time strengthens our faith. In last Sunday’s Gospel (Luke 17:5-10) the apostles asked Jesus to increase their faith. His answer was, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” In other words He told them that they already had the gift of faith and if they really believed, they would accomplish wonders. The faith of the apostles blossomed when Jesus rose from the dead and assured them once again of His unconditional love for them and His trust in them. Grateful for the gift of faith, they could not but go out and do what He did. In that process all of the apostles but St. John suffered a martyr’s death. They proclaimed the truth with the same love Jesus used to proclaim the Kingdom of God. How good it is when we take the time to thank God for the gift of life and His presence in our minds and hearts. We, like the apostles who were told they already have faith, have the same words spoken to us by Jesus. We have the ability to speak and live the truth. We have the opportunities to speak up for the unborn threatened by abortion. Our voices are heard when we refuse to cast a vote for someone who supports abortion. Our voices are heard when we reach out with love to all that God entrusts to our care every day. Constant faith leads to consistent, life-giving love.

At every weekday and Sunday Mass in our parish, we pray for women carrying children in their wombs and for an end to abortion. When I was standing along Route 110 last Sunday one of the woman next to me told me about a conversation she had with a relative that was pro-abortion. She silenced the pro-abortion advocate when she told her, “I have had three pregnancies in my life and each time I knew it was a child growing in my womb.” Prayer leads to non-violent witness. It is frustrating to speak out over and over again and not seem to make any difference. All positive words and actions do make a difference. They are God’s words and show that we are living out the faith He has in us. In my daily prayers I pray for an end to abortion and I ask the aborted children (60 million strong from our country) to pray for all of us who are pro-life that we will bear witness by our words and actions to the wonder of life in the womb. I also ask them to pray for those who perform abortions that they will see the harm being done to children in the womb, themselves, and the world we live in. Abortion is not a “political issue,” but the work of the devil and those who are knowingly or unknowingly in agreement with him. Without life, we do not exist and without love there is no real life. I invite you to join me in praying this prayer every day:

Gracious God, we are your people embraced by your love. We thank you for your presence with us throughout all time. Create us anew. Liberate us from that which keeps us from you. Enable us to recreate our world and restore justice. Heal us from every form of sin and violence. Transform us to live your Word more profoundly. Reconcile us so enemies become friends. Awaken us to the sacred; nurture our relationships. Enliven our parishes; reunite our families. Fill us with joy to celebrate the fullness of life. Empower us to be a community of love growing in your likeness. Amen.