"People brought to Him a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him...his sight was restored, and he could see everything distinctly." Mark 8: 22,25 (full readings)
Adrienne's Reflections: You have the power to make a blind person see clearly. This is a power and responsibility not to be taken lightly. Through three important things - your prayer, your words, and your witness (good example) - people will come to have "eyes to see" because you can lead them to the Divine Healer. First, we must pray. Today's Gospel reading gives us an important model: people brought the blind man to Jesus and he was healed. We must bring people to Jesus in prayer, especially people who are confused and have bought into the "pro-choice" rhetoric. Beg Jesus to restore their sight; beg Jesus to grant them the ability to humbly and with childlike simplicity distinguish "right" from "wrong". Second, we must have the courage to speak out. We must be charitable, for we will win more people over with kindness and graciousness than intellectual arguments. Our motive must always be love for Jesus and His Truth, not selfishly wanting to "win" the argument and be proven right. That said, we must continually strive to better understand and articulate our pro-life beliefs. For example, if someone asks you why the Catholic Church is against stem cell research, you should be able to respond, "Actually, the Catholic Church enthusiastically supports stem cell research! It is only a small sliver of this kind of research, called embryonic stem cell research, that we strongly oppose. That kind takes the life of a tiny human person." Third, our good deeds or good example have the power to bring people to Jesus and allow Him to heal their muddy ways of thinking. Once people see your dedication to faith and pro-life ethic (through loving actions, or insightful Facebook updates, or wearing a pro-life shirt/wristband), a few are likely to approach you about your beliefs. In a world marked with selfishness, utilitarian thinking, and harshness, your witness can stand out. Others are likely to be inspired by your way of radical love, patience, and perseverance. We must work hard to cultivate those (and other) virtues so that we can be good examples. The blind cannot lead the blind. We must be striving to grow in personal holiness ourselves, as a prerequisite to show others The Way. As Pope Paul VI rightly noted, “modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.” The fruit of these efforts - unceasing prayer, courageous words, and Christ-like witness - is the joy and peace that comes with knowing that you are doing your best to serve Our Lord and His littlest, most vulnerable ones. You have the ability to lead others to Christ, and He has the power to make them see clearly (1 Cor 3:6-9).
* Adrienne Doring's heart for the pro-life movement was strengthened by attending the national March for Life. God called her to serve as the founding Respect Life Director for Bishop Robert Finn in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph (2006-2009). She left that position to care for her daughter Monica Thérèse but gladly volunteers with pro-life efforts, such as Life Runners.
Faith Challenge: Jesus sacrificed all on the cross. Today we will likely be called on to make some sacrifice; let's resolve to do it joyfully and intentionally. Beg Christ to make the blind see!
* http://www.abortionchangesyou.com/ and http://www.abortionrecovery.org/
Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion, Alpha Center, Peters family (JP). Add Prayers on our website. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, running, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
* To whom much is given, much is expected. Let us first praise God for the gift of faith and the ability to see the evil of abortion and other attacks on the dignity of human life. Then, let us follow the call to lead others to Christ and His Truth.
Feast Day: St. Onesimus
Faith Quote: "Many of our friends are waiting for us to speak to them about Christ." ~ Francis Fernandez
Through Christ our Lord,
* Pray/Fast: Prayer connects us with God’s will & His miracles, changing us & helping others. Fast from things that take your eyes off Jesus. Those who pray together stay together, and close to God!
* Save Unborn (& family): Abortion reality (images)…#1 death cause (23% pregnancies). Prov 24:11 & Jer 1:5. “A great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish.” Mother Teresa
* Evangelize:Make room for unbelievers & re-evangelization of self, by way of prayer (relationship) and following Christ’s example of love (service/sacrifice/mercy). Matt 28:19.
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