Intercessions for Life
April 2002
For the gift of God's great mercy,
that those who have sinned against the Gospel of Life,
might repent of their wrong
and rejoice in the mercy of the God of all creation;
We pray to the Lord:
For those who will die today,
and for those who will mourn them,
that God might plant deep within their hearts,
the hope of the blessed resurrection of Christ from the dead;
We pray to the Lord:
For children who await the wonder of birth,
that safe within their mothers' wombs
they might know the security and peace
of those who are loved by God and his children;
We pray to the Lord:
For those who have grown very old,
and especially for all who are alone or afraid,
that Christ might lead us to them
and teach us to gently cherish their lives;
We pray to the Lord:
Each Sunday of the Church year provides opportunities for homiletic reflections on the Gospel of Life. The following brief reflections are designed to be incorporated into a homily which might even be primarily devoted to another topic, but which can be related to preaching for life.
April 7th SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER
They were hiding in the upper room for fear of those who had killed Jesus. The disciples were paralyzed with fear and hiding in the dark. Fear and darkness keep us from seeing things as they really are. Such is the case of a woman contemplating aborting her child. She's paralyzed with fear and sees nothing ahead but darkness. But then Jesus walks into the room, as if out of nowhere, and says, 'Peace be with you.' It is our job as followers of the Lord to walk into every room where the powers of darkness seek to prey on the fearful and speak Christ's words: 'Peace be with you.' For once that peace rests in the heart of every mother, no child will ever be endangered again.
April 14th THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER
How could the disciples have been so blind! They walked down the street and listened to Jesus, but they could not even tell it was him! Perhaps it was his glorified, post-resurrected body, or perhaps they were so overcome by the events of the past days that they could not bring themselves to see the truth. But it was not until they invited Christ in and he broke bread for them that they saw who he was. How often do we fail to see Jesus in those around us? Like the old woman in the nursing home not far from where you live. Have we invited her into our heart? Or the rebellious teenager or young single mother: Have we invited them into our home? Or what of the person with HIV/AIDS or the old man who is always complaining about life? Have we invited them into our lives. Until we do, we will fail to see Jesus in them. Jesus, who awaits us in the breaking of the bread.
April 21st FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Jesus tells us about himself this weekend. He says he is the "good shepherd." The good shepherd is the one who seeks out his sheep, even when they are lost. The good shepherd is the one who lays down his life for his sheep. Who are the lost sheep whom Jesus seeks out today? They are those whom everyone else wishes to forget. The old woman who is so obnoxious, that no one wants to talk to her at Church. The old man who has begun to smell and seems to make no sense. The person so sick with HIV/AIDS that everyone is afraid to go near them, afraid to touch them. The young girl who is pregnant and abandoned by the father of her child. The homeless person whose mental illness keeps them on the cold streets. The drug addict who lives in a self-destructive cycle of sin and death. All these people need the good shepherd to find them. All these people need the followers of Christ to love, reaffirm and preserve the priceless gifts of their lives.
April 28th FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
The disciples want to know the way. So Jesus points to himself. "I am the way, the truth and the life," he tells them. For all who seek the road to God, he is the only way. The way of giving, not receiving, is the way he has taught us to live. For all who seek the truth which comes from God, he is the only truth. By dying to ourselves, we live, just like him who is the 'firstborn of many brothers.' For all who seek life, he is the life. Only in Christ can I find meaning, only in him can I know happiness, only in him can I learn to cherish the infinitely wonderful gift of life from conception until he calls me home to himself.
April 2002
[I]n regard to the human embryo, science has now demonstrated that it is a human individual who possesses his own identity from conception. Therefore, it is logical to exact that this identity be legally recognized, above all in its fundamental right to life. ...
—Pope John Paul II, Angelus address, Feb. 3, 2002
[N]ot everything that is technically possible is morally acceptable. Scientific work aimed at securing a quality of life more in keeping with human dignity is admirable, but it must never be forgotten that human life is a gift, and that it remains precious even when marked by suffering and limitations. Life is a gift to be accepted and to be loved at all times, received without pay and to be placed without pay at the service of others.
—Message of His Holiness Pope John Paul II, Lent 2002
The world prizes human relationships based on self-interest and personal gain, and this fosters an egocentric vision of life, in which too often there is no room for the poor and weak. Every person, even the least gifted, must be welcomed and loved for themselves, regardless of their qualities and defects. Indeed, the greater their hardship, the more they must be the object of our practical love.
—Message of His Holiness Pope John Paul II, Lent 2002
No one is master of life; no one has the right to manipulate, oppress or even take life, neither that of others or his own. Much less can he do so in the name of God, who is the only Lord and the most sincere love of life.
—Pope John Paul II, Angelus address, Feb. 3, 2002