40 DAYS FOR LIFE - DAY 38 - CHRIST IS THE REASON FOR OUR HOPE!

"They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons; they poured out innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters... and the land was polluted with blood. Then the anger of the lord was kindled against his people, and He abhorred his heritage; he gave them into the hands of the nations, so that those who hated them ruled over them. Their enemies oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their power. (See Psalm 106:37-43)

DAY 38 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 by Fr. Frank Pavone

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.

Today's email:

Jennifer in Cherry Hill, New Jersey has been thankful
that the 40 Days for Life campaign in her community
has the support of the local Catholic bishop in the
Diocese of Camden. Just recently, Bishop Joseph
Galante participated in the prayer vigil outside the
abortion facility -- and more than 100 other people
were there to join him.

To see a photo of Bishop Galante at the vigil, go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=480

But there's someone else in that picture that I'd
like to call to your attention -- the young woman in
the wheelchair next to Bishop Galante. Her name is
Maricruz, and I would ask that you pray for her, her
birth family in Central America, and her adopted
family in New Jersey.

Maricruz is an abortion survivor.

Twenty-one years ago, her mother tried to abort her.
This was an attempted chemical abortion; her mother
took a pill, which was assumed to be RU-486. It is
believed that the drug was being used experimentally
in Central America at the time.

To make a long story short, the abortion pill didn't
work. Maricruz was born three months premature. She
survived, but was left severely handicapped and must
use the wheelchair. Maricruz has three siblings in
Central America -- and four others who were aborted.

The woman next to Maricruz is her adopted
grandmother, an active pro-lifer who's been honored
for her efforts on behalf of the unborn. She is also
the mother of 13 -- including Jennifer.

Yes, the woman who helped bring 40 Days for Life to
Cherry Hill, New Jersey (it's just outside of
Philadelphia, in case you were wondering) is also
Maricruz's adopted mom.

Please share this story with the next person who
complains that pro-lifers care nothing about
"unwanted" children after they're born!

Said Jennifer, "God provides for us in our lives when
we accept His plan for our lives."

Jennifer also tells a story of the horrifying truth
about abortion, the operation that its supporters
call a "safe, legal medical procedure."

Two prayer vigil participants saw a woman leave the
clinic, crying hysterically. She said she was 18
weeks pregnant -- and the abortionist had given her
baby a lethal injection to end the child's life. She
had apparently known very little about the actual
procedure, only that she had a "choice" that would
permit her to become un-pregnant.

She cried that God would never forgive her for what
she had done. Volunteers suggested going to the
emergency room to see if the baby could be saved.
Sadly, it was too late. She would have to return to
the clinic the next day to have the dead child
removed from her womb.

The woman told the volunteers that she wanted to
stand on the sidewalk to warn the clinic's clients
about what abortion really is. But please pray that
she recognizes her own need for healing and spiritual
renewal at this most challenging time in her life.
Please pray that the Lord will help her understand
that He CAN forgive her and is willing to do so --
and most importantly, that she herself can accept
God's forgiveness.

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