Devotional for Day 16, March 20, 2014
Randolph Sly, National Pro-life Religious Council
Intention: May the mystery of the Incarnation in- crease our zeal for defending life.
Scripture: Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” — Luke 1:30-33
Reflection: “God has assumed Humanity, joining it with Divinity, and kindled in men’s hearts new love of me.” These words were written by a Roman poet in the Fourth Century. He spent his life find- ing ways to express the greatest mystery of the world: the incarnation, in which God became man. The womb has been referred to as the “first home of the whole human race.” It is the place where life begins, where our stories start. In the womb the great men and women of history began their magnificent march through life. In the womb Divinity met humanity, and God the Son was born into the world.
As one of the Fathers of the early church, St. Leo the Great, declared, “Within her spotless womb Wisdom built itself a house and the Word be- came flesh.” Recently, I was at the hospital for the birth of my fourth grandchild. Looking through the nursery window at the rows of newly born babies, I began to think of the great stories that would be written about these tiny lives. During his visitation with the Virgin Mary, the angel prophesied to Mary about the life of her child. Here in this hospital, I pondered, what would he say about each of these? Would they meet the one who also came from His mother’s womb to redeem the world and kindle our hearts afresh for God? I thanked God for each baby alive and prayed for each story yet to be written.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, you have made the womb of each woman a very special place. Help us to hold fast to the sanctity of this first home of humanity, remembering the wonderful mystery, that God inhabited the womb of a young woman and came forth as the savior and deliverer of the world. We ask this in the Name of the one who came forth, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
At the end of the last 40 Days for Life campaign, I had the joy of seeing a 3-year-old girl, whose mom changed her mind and left her abortion appointment … after seeing the 40 Days for Life volunteers!
Seeing that beautiful girl and listening to her talk reminded me that the impact of the 40 Days for Life prayer vigil goes far beyond the street corner, and far beyond the moment.
That impact is often generational. The baby saved today may grow up to have children … grandchildren … great grandchildren! And the child who sees and understands what’s at stake can also influence others – including their elders!
Montgomery, Alabama
Michelle in Montgomery said it was very cold and windy at the 40 Days for Life vigil, “but that didn’t stop us from praying for moms and babies!”
The volunteers were able to speak to a young woman, “who changed her mind and chose life for her baby! Our prayerful witness made a difference in their lives,” Michelle said, “forever!”
She sent along a picture of two very determined vigil participants, “who were unstoppable, even when clinic workers turned on the sprinkler.” And keep in mind it was already cold and windy!
Knoxville, Tennessee
It was cold and wet in Knoxville as well – but this was rain, not the mischief of the abortion center staff.
In this miserable weather, Paul, the local director, was setting up for the daily vigil around 6:50 on a Sunday morning – and the rain kept getting more intense. “I looked up and saw seven vehicles parked on Washington Avenue, and 15 people walking towards me.”
The people were members of the Hispanic Community of Holy Ghost Parish and they ended up covering the entire day. Pastors and church buses driving by gave thumbs-up and honked their horns … as did lots of others as well.
“They were joined by others through the day,” Paul said, “but their presence can only be described as truly inspirational.”
McKinney, Texas
Another Paul, the local coordinator in McKinney, is often asked, “What about all those cars that go by and don’t even pay attention to us?”
“We never know what thoughts or conversations may take place,” he said. But he recalled a story he had heard from a teacher during a campaign a couple of years ago.
This teacher had overheard a conversation at school – a discussion between a second grader and another teacher.
The young boy asked his teacher if she had seen the people on the corner outside Planned Parenthood. She said yes, they were “a bunch of protestors.” The second grader told her they were not protesting, they were praying – praying to save the lives of children.
“Yes,” said Paul, “our prayers go beyond this one corner and affect our community.”