“Open our hearts, O Lord, to listen to the words of your Son.” –   ACTS 16: 14b

 

After 49 years and over 62 million aborted babies, prayers are being answered.  The trends over the last few years have been going down while poll numbers looking for Roe v. Wade to be overturned are going up.  There is even hope that a favorable decision on the State of Mississippi’s anti-abortion law may come soon from the United States Supreme Court.

Even with all the optimism, we need to keep in mind of the reality, the unborn are still vulnerable and will be until this land of ours wakes up to remove this stain of sin. Sisters and Brothers, our readings today explain the understanding of the importance of life and to live it as God Wills.  

Let us all remember, as Catholics, we are to believe that all life is sacred from conception until natural death, and the taking of innocent human life, whether born or unborn, is morally wrong.  There is to be no doubt about this.  There is not to be any acceptance of saying one thing and then doing something else. The Church teaches, "Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains forever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end. God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end: no one can under any circumstance claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human being" ("Donum vitae," 5).  Some humans believe they are the creator and are in control forgetting that it is due to the gifts God has actually blessed them with.  Yes, a man and a woman do have the capacity to bring about life but only through the Grace of God.  This gift is only to be used in consummating the Covenant of Marriage.  A Covenant not just between one man and one woman but in union with God Himself.  The gifts we have received from God are not to be used by us to seek worldly pleasures but rather to become all that God created us to be. It isn’t going to be easy, and we will be challenged in living as Catholics.  However, being part of the Body of Christ, the Church, praying daily, growing in Faith, Hope and Charity, we can endure any challenge or threat the ungodly hits us with.  Jesus shows us the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Let us not be afraid to follow Jesus all the way.  Jesus probably expected to meet opposition from the highest religious authorities in Jerusalem. For Him to meet opposition from His own relatives, as we hear in today’s Gospel, must have been even harder. When we choose to be disciples of the Lord Jesus and to follow His Will for our lives, we can expect to meet opposition from those who are opposed to the Gospel message and Christian way of life. The hardest opposition may actually come from someone close to us, a family member or close friend who doesn't want us to take the Gospel message too seriously.

Let us also not forget that we show Love as Jesus expects through humility and forgiveness.  We will encounter oppression from those who oppose His Teaching.  We show ourselves as a disciple of Jesus by loving the sinner, not the sin, by praying for our country to get back to being One Nation under God, and joining many in prayer, every day, starting today, to protect the unborn.  Are we ready to fulfill Our Father's Will, obey, and follow the way of Jesus even if others oppose our doing so?  Remember, we are accountable for our body and how we use it.

"Lord Jesus, may I always put you first and find joy in doing your will. May your love and charity grow in me, especially in the face of opposition and adversity."

May God’s Grace and Blessings Always be with you and yours!!  Our Lady of Guadalupe – Pray for us!!  

 

Yours in Christ,

Deacon Bob

This is a reminder TODAY at 10:00 AM, let us gather in public at the corner of Saturn and NASA Pkwy to pray a Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet praying for the Protection of the Unborn. PLEASE JOIN US!