Day 12 - October 9
Intention:
May the King of the Universe, who entered this world as a helpless infant, give us the humility to be healed.
Scripture:
My power is made perfect in weakness.
--2 Corinthians 12:9
Reflection:
The great mystery of the Humility of God is very near and dear to the mission of those serving in pro life and in a special way, post abortion ministries across this nation. For those wounded by their participation in abortion, the door to healing often feels like crossing an abyss of great fear: fear of judgment, fear of being torn apart by the pain, by self hatred and rage at those who hurt and abandoned you, and manipulated you in your time of temptation. For men in particular, entering the unknown waters of emotional vulnerability, so necessary to healing calls for a different kind of courage that feels deceptively like weakness.
The door to healing is humility. It is born in the inability to no longer control the pain, to live with the consequences of that tragic decision to reject life. The hearts cries out, "I have committed a grave offense against my Creator and I am consumed by regret, grief and sorrow!"
During these forty days let us pray for all who have participated in abortion and with love call them to healing and reconciliation. With healing these women and men can become as John Paul II proclaimed in the Gospel of Life, "the most eloquent defenders of everyone's right to life."
Jesus proclaimed, "I am the Vine, you are the branches" (John 15:5). To bear the greatest fruit, the branches must be pruned. Each level of pruning of the vine requires a deeper level of humility so that we can abandon ourselves to His will. This is not a lofty theological concept as much as it is an earthy experience of pulling weeds, tilling rocky soil, pruning and healing the vines. "If a man wishes to come after me, he must deny his very self, take up his cross, and begin to follow in my footsteps" (Matthew 16:24).
Prayer:
Lord, during these forty days, we ask that with each day of this sacred vigil, everything in us that separates us from your perfect will would be pruned from our hearts and souls. In this blessed freedom may we experience a powerful anointing of your Holy Spirit. Filled with confidence and trust may we proclaim with the mother of Jesus, "Let it be done to me, according to your Word."
Kevin Burke
Executive Director, Rachels Vineyard Ministries
Your comments have been pouring in this fall!
At the end of these daily updates, I’ve asked people
to visit the 40 Days for Life blog and tell me a bit
about their own experiences — and many of you have
responded.
Some of you are in cities where campaigns are under
way while others are participating by praying and
fasting from far away — including Prague in the
Czech Republic!
I appreciate EVERYTHING you’re doing! Here are some
of the comments from the blog.
ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA
“David Bereit spoke to our little group in Saint Paul,
last night at 9:30,” wrote one person who was there for
this appearance by 40 Days for Life’s national director.
“He had, that day, traveled from southern Minnesota
(Rochester and Mankato), all the way up to Duluth and
Walker, then down to Alexandria, Saint Cloud and then
Saint Paul — encouraging folks at each stop.
“He looked fresh as a daisy and spoke so eloquently and
passionately to us for at least 20 minutes and he still
had plenty of voice. AWESOME! It would tire ME out for
the day, just going to Duluth and back!
“Thank you, David, and ALL who are out there, all who
are praying — wherever you are! Glory to God!”
WHITTIER, CALIFORNIA
“My mother and I were at the Planned Parenthood in
Whittier,” wrote Rosemary. “There were several young
girls being dropped off.”
As they watched one young woman leave following an
abortion, “our hearts were broken for a life lost and
our prayer became more fervent. We cried together as
we prayed yesterday’s daily devotional — so
beautifully moving and centering for this horrendous
task we must do.”
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
Suzanne is doing what she can, as “we don’t have the
numbers here in Prague in the Czech Republic to mount
a campaign at this time.”
“I know that my presence has made a difference already,
since I was approached by a policeman yesterday who
told me that my sign — ‘women do regret their
abortion’ — was offensive to a woman at the hospital
and I would have to leave the area,” she wrote.
“I have wondered whether my prayers and presence was
even being noticed in this country and obviously it
has. Perhaps I’ve also made other women think about
the risks of choosing abortion as a solution to their
unintended pregnancy.”
HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS
“At first, I felt like Jonah being fed to the whale,”
Dennis said upon arriving for his first time to pray at
the 40 Days for Life vigil site. After a few minutes of
prayer, a woman got out of her car and went to join him.
“It was good to have her company.”
Some passersby offered honks of encouragement; a few
others offered rude gestures. Shortly afterward, it
started to rain. But Dennis continued to pray. “I was
completely absorbed in the moment.”
Said Dennis, “Not a bad day.”
Have you had a chance to take part in a peaceful
40 Days for Life prayer vigil yet? If not, here’s
the link to the list of campaign locations:
http://40daysforlife.com/location.cfm