We have end our joyful Christmas season, having once again embrace the liturgical color of green in Ordinary Time. “Ordinary Time” does not mean that it is commonplace or mundane, but that it is the weeks of the year that are counted outside of the special liturgical seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter. In the midst of the winter month of January, we unfortunately mark a date we are not proud of as Catholics: the anniversary of the Roe vs Wade Supreme Court decision on January 22, 1973 that legalized abortion in this country.
Although we mark this date with sadness, we can also be proud of a resolution adopted by our city of Pearl last October, in which our city became “a safe city for pre-born children.” The resolution passed by Pearl recognizes the “humanity of the pre-born child” and “urges the citizens of Pearl to encourage the humane treatment of all human beings, including the pre-born child, as well as to promote and defend the dignity of all human life.” In contrast, around the same time, the city of Jackson tried to limit the free speech of those people of faith who would try to pray and be witnesses in front of the abortion clinic in Jackson.
As we pray that our words and our actions respect all human life from the moment of conception to the moment death, I want to share the words of the following prayer that I found on the website for the novena for Nine Days for Life, promoted by the US Bishops:
EVERY LIFE IS WORTH LIVING:
Heavenly Father, thank you for the precious gift of life. Help us to cherish and protect this gift, even in the midst of fear, pain, and suffering. Give us love for all people, especially the most vulnerable, and help us bear witness to the truth that every life is worth living. Grant us the humility to accept help when we are in need. Teach us to be merciful to all. Through our words and our actions, help us to encounter the outstretched hands of your mercy. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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