Advent season and the Pro-Life movement

“[W]e are facing an enormous and dramatic clash between good and evil, death and life, the “culture of death” and the “culture of life”. We find ourselves not only faced with but necessarily in the midst of this conflict: we are all involved and we all share in it, with the inescapable responsibility of choosing to be unconditionally pro-life.”---Pope John Paul II

People like to say that religious people lock step and are not able to think critically. I do not believe that is true. During Advent, we are called through our reflections to draw deeper into the freedom of the Children of God. Soon we will be singing “A Child is born to us”, the mystery of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. The life of the infant Jesus was precious, just as all life is.

To be Pro-Life is to be aware of the sacredness of all people, that no matter who they are, they are Children of God and beloved. Life is sacred from the moment of conception until natural death; any interference is in reality ‘evil’. It takes away from life; it diminishes the reality of the deep mystery of the ‘other’. Those who are Pro-Life need, to always see their fellow human beings as beloved by God, and in living this, our capacity to be present for others deepens and expands. To say one is Pro-Life and is indifferent o the sufferings of those around them only show their lack of commitment to seeking to lessen the need for the needless taking of life.

Cultures have a life of their own, a life span, they are born, grow strong and eventually, they will die. If we are dying or not only history will tell, yet we seem to be in a free fall at this time. Today many allow their consciences to grow quiet when it comes to being pro-life or not. While we can’t stop abortions or the executions of prisoners (no doubt some are innocent of what they are accused of), we can continue to spread the message by word and deed of the importance of each life.

If we are truly Pro-Life, we must live it on a practical level, and seek to love as God loves. to speak the truth calmly, without worrying about who we will convince, but to simply plant the seed. If we do not live the message of what it means to be pro-life then we are wasting our time just being empty drums.–Br.MD