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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

Today’s email — your praying has an impact!

I’m sending you this message from the Akron, Ohio
airport where I’m about to board a 6 AM flight to
Washington, D.C. Over the last few days, I’ve been
blessed to visit 40 Days for Life locations from
Indianapolis, Indiana, to Painesville, Cleveland,
Akron, and Canton, Ohio.

Everywhere I go, people ask the question: “Are our
prayers really making a difference?”

The answer, I am convinced, is often: “Yes, they most
certainly are — and in ways you may never know. So
just have faith that God is at work — somewhere!”

That answer was confirmed recently by a taxi driver
in Providence, Rhode Island.

Joanne said the driver pulled his cab over to the
area where 40 Days for Life vigil participants were
praying outside a Providence abortion center.

“Let me tell you a story,” he said. “You make a
difference, you know.”

The driver went on to explain that he’d been seeing
people praying outside the facility for a few years.
“Sometimes there’s just one,” he said. “I don’t like
that, when one of you is left alone.”

It made this man think. “I asked myself why anyone
would come out in the rain, the snow, the heat, the
night, the morning — even when you’re alone, and even
when people were mean to you. I figured what you were
doing meant something big. Why else would you do it?”

The regular prayer presence, and the sign he often saw
with a scripture passage — “Before I formed you in the
womb, I knew you” — made a deep impression.

“What you do, standing and praying and holding that
sign, standing no matter what — that is enough,” he
said.

“It speaks for itself. That’s the message. It’s true.”

But that’s only the beginning of the story.

“When my daughter called from down South to tell me
she was pregnant,” said the taxi drive, “I thought of
you. And I never said ‘abortion’ to her. I just helped.
Now I’m the grandfather of a two-year old. That baby
is so important — no matter what.”

He then related a more recent phone call, from his
younger daughter. “She has lots of difficulties and
worries,” he said, “illness, financial problems,
abandonment, everything. She told me she was pregnant.

“I thought of you people. Again, I knew. I didn’t say
‘abortion.’ She’s seven weeks pregnant. She’s going
to make it. We’ll work it out.”

This man, who was unknown to any of the vigil
participants, just appeared to say that what you’re
doing has an impact — so don’t ever wonder if the
effort is worth it.

“We see you, we think about what you’re doing and why,
and look what happens,” the driver said. “It’s a good
thing, what you do.”

“O, my soul, bless the Lord!” said Joanne. The taxi
driver’s message was, she said, “a love letter from
heaven. Rejoice, for here is proof that even in our
darkest days, God is working wonders in answer to
our prayers!’

Keep praying!