It is perhaps a bit premature to start talking about January 22, 2015, and the ominous thought that after 42 years Americans persist in killing the innocent preborn. Of course, this is due to laws that protect the criminal doctor and fail to defend the rights of innocent human beings.
Sure, you might say, it has all been said before! But this statement from French playwright Paul Claudel still bears repeating because he reminds us of exactly what God expects of us, even during these difficult times, even right now:
I have not come to bring you paradise here and now, Christ tells us. I have come to bring you the horizon, the sea, that is to say, freedom, that body which never overflows although all the rivers flow into it, without ceasing (cf. Eccl 1:7). I have come to bring you the desire and the direction, that secret understanding, throughout your travels, of your destination. It makes them full of understanding, like the Euphrates (Sir 24:24). To the burden that weights you down, I have added longing. . . . You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Mt 5:48).
In other words, our persistence in the struggle to defend truth inspires us for the long term. We know that right now and always our work is for the Lord. History teaches that politics is really the art of disappointment and betrayal; it is not the goal of our efforts, nor should anyone suggest that it is.
We are God’s children, not partisan political activists. This means that while we are IN the world, we are not OF the world. This truth explains in large part the scornful attitudes others express toward those of us who point out without apology that every human being is a gift from the Lord.
Saint John Paul II taught in the Gospel of Life,
“The life which God gives man is quite different from the life of all other living creatures, inasmuch as man, although formed from the dust of the earth . . . is a manifestation of God in the world, a sign of His presence, a trace of His glory.”
Human existence and its indisputable integrity are not negotiable, though in our day and age many would disagree. We hear words like “freedom of choice” and “constitutional right” being applied to life and death questions. Many of us often shrink from debating the falsehoods integral to these phrases for fear that we might offend someone or seem intolerant. And sadly, this hesitancy is exactly what the enemy expects.
But we dare not surrender to the expectations of the world in which God has placed us. Our voice is His voice; our words should be His words. We confront an evil enemy every single day. That enemy cannot and must not cow us into silence.
Thus it is that we dare to be hopeful in Him and positive in our message, today and every day. We do not need to wait for January 22 to insist on an end to the lies, the sloganeering, and the acts of violence against our fellow human beings. We must step out in truth every day.
We should already be talking about why 40 Days for Life, beginning tomorrow in many communities in our nation, is important and urgently needed. If it’s not coming to your town, start one. The information you need is on the 40 Days for Life website.
We should consistently speak about the need to volunteer at places like pro-life pregnancy centers or nursing homes to give witness to the truth now and to show how precious life truly is.
The killing does not wait for a particular day. The lies in the media do not wait for anniversaries or special occasions. They happen daily.
So must our acts in defense of life!