MARY, OUR MOTHER

RESPECT LIFE MONTH

Is Saving Precious Lives, A Once A Year Event?

We sincerely commend every dear soul who has taken the time to hold a pro-life sign at a Life Chain or help organize a banquet in funding a local Pregnancy Care Center, Parish Respect Life Office or other events as part of Respect life Month. Know that God will use every effort for His greater good!

The sad reality is that abortion is not just a once a year event. The killing of innocent lives takes place everyday in this nation, even on Sundays! Getting involved during Respect Life month makes a big difference within churches and in some communities, the abortion machinery grinds on relentlessly the rest of the year! One has to seriously question the effectiveness and our commitment to ending abortion.

Though it is "better to light a candle than curse the darkness," getting involved once a year is tantamount to;

* Fueling your car once a year - wouldn't get you far!

* Brushing your teeth once a year - promotes tooth decay!

* Working one day a year - wouldn't get much done!

* Exercising once a year - promotes physical death!

* Praying only once a year - ensures spiritual death!

And so it is with our pro-life efforts. If all we do is once a year, how effective are we? How committed to ending abortion are we? Can we truly expect to reverse this dreadful evil by showing up once a year? Is it any wonder the media, politicians and activist judges don't take us seriously? For over 32 years, most have gotten involved just once a year, while babies continue to die at an alarming rate. Our absence beats our presence 11 to 1.

Prayer is the preface to the book of Christian living;

The test of the new life sermon;

The girding on of armor for battle;

The pilgrim's preparation for his journey,

It must be supplemented by action or it amounts to nothing.

[Arthur Stevens Phelps, 1863-1948]

"Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."

[James 2:17]

It's the action, not the fruit of the action, that's important.

You have to do the right thing.

It may not be in your power, may not be in your time,

that there will be any fruit.

You may never know what results come from your action.

But if you do nothing, there will be no result. [Gandhi]

RESPECT LIFE MONTH MEDITATION

OK! We claim to be Pro-life. Does our actions prove our convictions? Obviously, we would never consider an abortion, or even be an accessory to another's abortion. But, do our family, friends, neighbors and co-workers understand why we are solidly pro-life? Do they even know that we are pro-life? Do we address the issue whenever God puts an opportunity in our lap?

How about putting our conviction into action. Have we ever considered taking the Holy Spirit to the gates of hell, reaching out to the women and teens that have been lied to, who are in danger of losing their soul, marching their son or daughter to a certain death? If not on a regular basis, how about once a month, or even just a couple times a year? You won't be alone, and even if you don't know what to say or do, just being there, at that place of killing, taking the Holy Spirit with you, will multiply and amplify the efforts of the sidewalk counselors. God who is faithful, will bless your obedience!!!

More specifically, if we are indeed pro-life, if we truly believe that abortion kills an innocent defenseless child, what are we doing to stop the killing? What have we done in the past 15 minutes, today, this week, last week, this month, or so far this year? In James 4:17, we're told that "Those who know the right thing to do and do not, sins." One day, we will give an account!

[Excerpted from "Christian Action News, October '05]