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October 6, 2002
Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Is 5:1-7/ Phil 4:6-9/ Mt 21:33-43 (139)
Preaching for Life
God plants a vineyard. He labors from sun-up to sun-down to make it fertile. We're told he turns the soil, clears the land of stones and plants only the choicest vines (that's us!). But what happens when the crop comes in? Are there big luscious plump and juicy grapes, overflowing with sweetness and beauty? No. The grapes are small and bitter and hard. These vines did not bear the fruit for which they were planted.
Is that how God sometimes looks on us as a nation? He led our ancestors here from every continent and corner of the earth. Through their hands he cleared the land and planted what promised to be a bountiful harvest: a veritable cornucopia of justice and truth and equality. God planted in the United States of America a single nation which, even on its currency, recognizes that unity comes only from him and virtue only from following his ways.
But when harvest time comes, what will God reap in this American vineyard? Will it be the grapes of justice? Will this harvest include babies saved from abortion, the treasured old man, and the invaluable life of the woman who's deathly sick? Will this harvest include a Church who loves the poor, the broken, the forgotten and those whom everyone else would throw away? Will this harvest include an army of those who preach, proclaim and live the Gospel of life?
Or when the fullness of time comes, will God reap a sickly harvest in this vast nation? Will he find the bodies of those whom we have killed despite their innocence and executed because of their crimes. Will he find the sad lives of those whom we have forgotten or neglected and the lifeless bodies of those who died from the loneliness of a forgotten old age or the deadliness of sicknesses we didn't think worth treating? Will he reap a vineyard of apathy, selfishness and consumeristic narcissism?
What will God finds when he returns to this vineyard? Only we can tell.
Let us recommit ourselves today to tending the Lord's vineyard, beginning with our own little parcel. Let us read, and pray, and study and live the Gospel of Life that we may grow rich in grace and abundant in God's holy life.
Along with Saint Paul, let us have no fear. Rather, let us abide in the peace of God that surpasses all understanding and which will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Whatever is true, let us embrace it and live!Let us embrace and live the Gospel of Life, that the harvest God finds in this blessed nation at the end of time may be rich, and faithful and true!
Whatever is honorable, let us embrace it and live!
Whatever is just, let us embrace it and live!
Whatever is pure, let us embrace it and live!
Intercessions for Life
For the children who have died from abortion in our nation,
and for their mothers and fathers,
for mercy, peace and the loving embrace of Christ;
We pray to the Lord:
For the members of our Supreme Court,
that God will grant them wisdom,
and the desire to protect our inalienable rights
to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness;
We pray to the Lord:
For those who have grown very old,
and especially for those tempted to die,
that God might grant them the patient endurance
to do his will and serve his Gospel;
We pray to the Lord:
For all who are alone and afraid:
for the man who sits on death row,
the old woman in a nursing home,
and the single mother abandoned by all:
that God might teach us how to love them;
We pray to the Lord:
For all unborn children,
and especially for the babies of unmarried mothers,
that God might send an angel to protect them;
We pray to the Lord:
For all legislators,
that they might be wise, loving, and virtuous;
We pray to the Lord:
For our Church,
that through the proclamation of the Gospel of Life,
we might live the cross of our Lord, Jesus Christ,
and proclaim his good news to all the world;
We pray to the Lord:
A Prayer for Life
Optional Memorial
Wednesday, January 22, 2003
Introduction
In November, 2001, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops approved the following adaptation of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. Following confirmation by the Holy See in February, 2002, the following became particular law for the dioceses of the United States of America:
In all the dioceses of the United States of America, January 22 (or January 23, when the 22nd falls on a Sunday) shall be observed as a particular day of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion, and of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life. The Mass "For Peace and Justice" (no. 21 from "Masses for Various Needs") should be celebrated with violet vestments as an appropriate liturgical observance for this day.On January 22, 2003, a "day of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion, and of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life" will take place for the first time. The following commentary is offered on the prayers for this celebration to assist homilists and those engaged in the planning of this liturgy.
Today is also, appropriately, the feast of Saint Vincent of Saragossa, a martyr in the early Christian Church. St. Vincent was killed under the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian in 304 A.D. He was the faithful spokesman for the church in Saragossa, since the Bishop there, Valerius, suffered from a speech impediment and relied on Vincent to preach the gospel under any and all circumstances. This would prove to be Vincent's real gift: he never backed away from speaking the truth to civil authorities no matter what the consequences. And in Vincent's case those consequences meant extended humiliation, torture and finally, execution. In witnessing to his Christian faith, this saint's call was to help convert the Governor of the region, Dacian, whose decisions deprived the poor and defenseless of their needs. So too for us today, the courage of Vincent is a great inspiration in defense of human life. We can recall with benefit the words of the gospel for this feast: "You will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the pagans. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to speak or what to say; what you are to say will be given to you when the time comes; because it is not you who will be speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you" (Matt. 10:17-22).
Mass for Peace and Justice
The Entrance antiphon is taken based on the book of Sirach (See Sirach 36: 18-19) asking God to hear the prayers of his servants and guide us in the way of justice. Only God can answer our prayers that the littlest and most innocent among us be preserved and protected against the violence of abortion. As we sing this opening antiphon we join our voices with all those who seek the grace to defend the Gospel of Life.
The first Opening Prayer option begins by recalling that those who work for peace will be called the children of God. The second sentence of the prayer reminds us of the words of Pope Paul II in his famous address to the United Nations: "If you want peace, work for justice." The prayer asks God's grace to help us "to work without ceasing for that justice which brings true and lasting peace." The homilist might well reflect today on how we will never find true peace until God's justice prevails. True peace reigns only when every human heart, especially the littlest and most defenseless among us, enjoy the blessings of that peace. The work of spreading the Gospel of Life and defending the right to life of the not yet born must be the unceasing agenda of each person who seeks to bring 'the peace the world cannot give' to our day.
The Prayer over the Gifts reminds us that it is only in Christ's sacrifice upon the cross that we can find the answers to the injustices of our day. Harmony and concord are born only from the side of the King and peacemaker through whom we offer the Eucharist. The homilist might reflect on the many ways we seek to find justice and peace: through politics, persuasion, public relations, the media, etc. Yet it is only at the foot of the cross of the Lord Jesus that we will ever find true and lasting peace which brings joy to the children of God (see Communion antiphon).
Finally, the Prayer after Communion asks that as God has renewed us with the body and blood of his Son, so he might fill use with "the spirit of love." Thus, we might be strengthened for the work ahead: establishing among all "Christ's farewell gift of peace." When related to the opening prayer, it becomes clear that to establish this peace we must work for justice: a justice which recognizes the infinite value of every human life from conception until natural death.
Reflections on the Readings
Hebrews 7:1-3, 15-17 and Mark 3:1-6
(LFM 313)
While the readings for this day may be taken from among the readings for a Mass for Peace and Justice (LFM, nos. 887-891), the readings for the day may also be used. The first reading from Hebrews recalls the great gift of the Priesthood, foreshadowed in Melchizedek, the king of Salem "and priest of God Most High." Abraham, we are told, gave to Melchizedek a tenth of everything he owned in honor of his priesthood, his closeness to God. Today, "another priest is raised up," who is Christ the Lord, the great High Priest. This new High Priest brings to us "the power of a life that cannot be destroyed." For the gift of that life we owe not one tenth or half or even most of our possessions. To Christ, the author of life and the Priest whose sacrifice has won for us the gift of eternal life, we all our all.
The Gospel today presents a special challenge to all who seek to defend the Gospel of Life and to preserve and protect the lives of unborn children. Those whose lives were totally absorbed by the law sought to judge Jesus. They would condemn him if he dared to cure someone on the Sabbath. For them, the law (and catching someone who was violating the law) was far more important than the individual person whose withered hand Jesus sought to heal. Jesus' question to those who sought to condemn him means a great deal to us as we seek to overturn the law which permits the taking of innocent human life "Is it lawful...to save life rather than to destroy it?" His accusers, we are told, "remained silent" and Jesus healed the man with the withered hand.
Is it lawful to take life today? Yes. We who seek to bring the healing power of Jesus to a nation whose soul has been torn asunder by the sin of abortion must not remain silent. We must defend the right to life of every person from conception to natural death and work to preserve the rights of all who are forgotten or weak or defenseless.
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (LFM 68)
January 26, 2003
Jonah 3:1-5, 10
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Mark 1:14-20
Notes for Homilists
What a great consolation today's readings are for those who seek to proclaim the Gospel of Life! How easy it is to become discouraged: to despair that those who espouse abortion, euthanasia and capital punishment will ever heed the consumate value of life from conception to natural death. How hard it is, sometimes, to believe that they will change.
Jonah had the same problem. "Go to the Ninevites," God told him. "Tell them to repent." But Jonah would not believe they could repent. He ran as far away as he could from God's call. He ran all the way to the belly of a whale. But when, after running away for as long as he was able, he finally gave in to God's will, he entered the city of Ninenveh. I wonder how much confidence this reluctant prophet put behind his proclamation in the streets: "Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed."? Yet after only one day, we are told "the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth." If the people of Nineveh "turned from their evil ways," why do we doubt that God cannot turn the hearts of abortionists and those who oppose the Gospel of life today?
The proclamation of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark today is at the heart of the Gospel message: "The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." Pope John Paul II has told us how this Gospel is a Gospel of Life. A Gospel of infinite love incarnate, of pure love which sacrifices unto death, of risen love which not even death can destroy. Simon and Andrew and James and John were all standing in their boats when the Lord called them to be fishers of men. They left all they knew and followed him to live this Gospel of Life. Will we do the same?
Pope John Paul II to the Pontifical Academy for Life
(February, 2000)
The evidence shows with increasing clarity how policies and laws opposed to life are causing societies to decline, not only morally but demographically and economically. The Encyclical Evangelium Vitae's message can therefore be presented not only as true and authentic guidelines for moral rebirth, but also as a reference-point for civil salvation.
Thus, there is no reason for that type of defeatist mentality which claims that laws opposed to the right to life - those which legalize abortion, euthanasia, sterilization and methods of family planning opposed to life and the dignity of marriage - are inevitable and now almost a social necessity. On the contrary, they are a seed of corruption for society and its foundations.
The civil and moral conscience cannot accept this false inevitability, any more than the idea that war or interethnic extermination is inevitable...
Pastors, the faithful and people of good will, especially if they are lawmakers, are asked for a renewed and united commitment to change unjust laws that legitimize or tolerate such violence.
No effort should be spared to eliminate legalized crime or at least to limit the damage caused by these laws, but with the vivid awareness of the radical duty to respect every human being's right to life from conception until natural death, including the life of the lowliest and the least gifted.
However, another extensive area of endeavor in the defense of life is open to the initiative of the believing community: this is the pastoral and educational field which the fourth part of the Encyclical discusses, offering particular guidelines for building a new culture of life. In the past five years, Dioceses and parishes have started many projects, but much remains to be done. ...
The changing of laws must be preceded and accompanied by the changing of mentalities and morals on a vast scale, in an extensive and visible way. In this area the Church will spare no effort nor can she accept negligence or guilty silence. ...
May every person of good will feel called to play an active part in this great cause. May he be sustained by the conviction that every step taken in defending the right to life and in its concrete advancement is a step towards peace and civilization.
Intercessions for Life
For young mothers everywhere,
and especially those who are tempted to despair,
that through the child they carry deep within,
they might know hope and joy;
We pray to the Lord:
For all whose hearts ache from the sin of abortion,
that God will soothe and heal us with the balm of his mercy;
We pray to the Lord:
For mothers broken by the memory of a child lost to abortion,
that through the intercession of the Mother of God,
the gentle and merciful love of God may heal their innermost being;
We pray to the Lord:
For a growing love of God's little ones,
in the womb, in the nursing home or at death's door.
That we might love with the love of Jesus;
We pray to the Lord:
For all mothers,
especially those who are young or alone,
beaten or addicted;
that God might heal their broken hearts
and seal them with his love;
We pray to the Lord:
That the Lord,
who rescues the life of the poor from the power of the wicked,
might send an angel to guard and protect
all unborn children;
We pray to the Lord:
For (your U.S. Representative), and (your U.S. Senator),
and all the leaders of our country:
that God may make them strong and effective defenders
of the poor, the unborn and the forgotten;
We pray to the Lord:
Two Vigils for Life
The Nativity of the Lord
At the beginning of the first hour
| In perfect love, you became one of us: Bring joy to expectant parents Foster the love of each mother for the child of her womb: Strengthen each father's love for his unborn child: Banish all fear from the hearts of new parents: Give us the grace to accept your holy will: |
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. |
At the beginning of the second hour
| You give us the blessed example of Mary and Elizabeth: Send relatives to support all expectant parents: Provide wise counselors to guide them: Give them good friends to console them: Give them safe refuge when they are afraid: Through the intercession of Saint Elizabeth, |
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. |
At the beginning of the third hour
| Look with love on all pregnant mothers with nowhere to turn: Give the grace of patient endurance to young fathers who feel alone: Give rest in our homes and hearts to all frightened parents: Let us never turn away the stranger or the person in need: Give us rest in the Sacred Heart of Jesus: Give us rest in the ever present care of Mary, our Mother: |
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. |
At the beginning of the fourth hour
| Bless each child awaiting birth into this world: Protect the child who waits in a mother's womb: Sanctify those who prepare mothers for the day of birth: Bring joy to the mother who first feel her child stir: Bring peace to parents who await their child's birth: Stir joy within the hearts of all expectant parents: |
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. |
At the beginning of the fifth hour
After a pause for silent prayer, pray these or other invocations:
| Teach us to proclaim to the world the Good News of Life! Make us messengers of your good news to all who are in need: Send us to the poor that they might know your love: Teach us perfect joy that we might convert the world with love: Shepherd us to those most in need of your Gospel: |
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. |
At the beginning of the sixth hour
After a pause for silent prayer, pray these or other invocations:
| Give us true wonder at the mystery of birth: Give joy to parents and grandparents at the birth of each child: Teach us to honor and support expectant mothers: Teach us to honor and support expectant fathers: Let us see the face of Jesus in the birth of each child: |
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. |
At the beginning of the seventh hour
| Give us the strength for the journeys you call us to make: Help us to follow your stars and see the wonders you set before us: Let us seek Christ, the star which never sets, Grant wisdom that we may never be lost on our pilgrimage to you: Bring us ever before the Gospel of Life incarnate in Jesus your Son: |
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. |
At the beginning of the eighth hour
| Let us bring the best gifts of our lives to honor new life: Grant us the will to give all in the service of Christ: May we bring all our possessions to the service of him, May we adore the infinite miracle present at the birth of each child: May we support and sustain all new parents: |
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. |
At the beginning of the ninth hour
| May we never cease to wonder at the joy of new life: May each newborn child be received as proof of God's eternal love: May each newborn child be cherished as an infinite treasure: May each newborn child be preserved, nourished and loved: May the birth of Christ, the Son of God, give us perduring strength: |
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. |
The Mystery of Faith
At the beginning of the first hour
You gave your life for us, give us the strength to preserve the lives of others:
On the night before you died, your love embrace us all:
Embrace in your love the little child in his mother's womb:
At the beginning of the second hour
You were unjustly condemned to die, hear our prayers for these little children:
They washed their hands of your execution, give the courage to defend the weak:
You stood before the jeering crowds, grant us the courage to stand with you:
At the beginning of the third hour
You were nailed to the cross, join your suffering to the children killed before birth:
You accepted death that we might know life, strength our love for every human bring;
You were abandoned by those whom you loved, give courage to the parents of every unborn child.
At the beginning of the fourth hour
You gave your last breath for love sinner, help us to give our lives for the poor:
By dying you destroyed our death, give us love for every human life:
In your Father's hands you have your Spirit, accept the gift of our lives to do your will:
At the beginning of the fifth hour
They buried your body with mourning and tears, hear our cries for the aborted child:
You showed that the grave is not the end of life, embrace these little children in peace:
You consecrated the grave in three days, help us to wait in hope for your return in glory:
At the beginning of the sixth hour
As an angel announced your resurrection, teach us to announce the Gospel of Life:
As you rose triumphant from the tomb, destroy the deadly sin of abortion:
As you resurrection brought joy to the women, so bring joy to the heart of every expectant mother:
At the beginning of the seventh hour
You met Mary in your resurrected body, come to every expectant parent with hope:
In an unexpected way she came to hear your voice, speak words of truth to new mothers:
Mary heard you speak her name, call every child from his mother's womb.
At the beginning of the eighth hour
To a world so burdened by sin and death, come to lead us home:
To a world where children lie in danger of death, come to lead us home:
To a world where we take the life of the unborn child, come to lead us home:
At the beginning of the ninth hour
To the child who waits in her mother's womb:
Come, Lord Jesus!
To the fathers and mothers who are tempted and fearful: Come, Lord Jesus!
To we who seek to defend the Gospel of life, Come, Lord Jesus!
Prayers on the Death of a Child (OCF)
Is there anything more painful that the death of a child? Words like unfair an unnatural horror and rage, and most of all "why?" range freely about the human heart.
Yet just as the Blessed Virgin Mary cradled the body of her Son at the foot of his cross, so do we kneel before the cross of Christ in search of peace and meaning and answers. The only road to choose is the one which leads to him. The only answers come from Christ. The only way out of the darkness is to seek Jesus: the way, the truth, and the life.
The following prayers are taken from the order of Christian Funerals. They are the Church's words when all other words fail. May we take them to heart as cries for mercy, for healing, and for faith in the face of the terrible mystery of the death of a child.
Prayers for the Dead
For a Baptized Child
Lord, in our grief we call upon your mercy:
open your ears to our prayers,
and one day unite us again with N.,
Who, we firmly trust,
already enjoys eternal life in your kingdom.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
To you, O lord,
we humbly entrust this child,
so precious in your sight.
Take him/her into your arms
and welcome him/her into paradise,
where there will be no sorrow, no weeping nor pain,
but the fullness pf peace and joy
with your Son and the Holy Spirit
for ever and ever. Amen.
Prayers for Mourners of a Baptized Child
- Lord of all gentleness,
surround us with your care
and comfort us in our sorrow,
for we grieve at the loss of this little child.
As you washed N. In the waters of baptism
and welcomed him/her into the life of heaven,
so call us one day
to be united with him/her
and share for ever the joy of your kingdom.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
- Eternal Father,
through the intercession of Mary,
who bore your Son and stood by the cross as he died,
grant to these parents in their grief
their assistance of her presence,
the comfort of her faith,
and the regard of her prayers.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
- Lord God,
source and destiny of our lives,
in your loving providence
you gave us N.
To grow in wisdom, age and grace.
Now you have called him/her to yourself.
We grieve over the loss of one so young
and struggle to understand your purpose.
Draw him/her to yourself
and give him/her full stature in Christ.
May he/she stand with all the angels and saints,
who know your love and praise your saving will.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
- Merciful Lord,
whose wisdom is beyond human understanding,
you adopted N. As your own in baptism
and have taken him/her to yourself
even as he/she stood on the threshold of life.
Listen to our prayers and extend to us your grace,
that one day we may share eternal life with N.,
For we firmly believe that he/she now rests with you.
We ask this through Christ our lord. Amen.
Prayer for those who Mourn a Child who Died Before Baptism
- O Lord, whose ways are beyond understanding,
listen to the prayers of your faithful people:
that those weighed down by grief
at the loss of this little child
may find reassurance in your infinite goodness.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
- God of all consolation,
searcher of mind and heart,
the faith of these parents is known to you.
Comfort them with the knowledge
that the child for whom they grieve
is entrusted now to your loving care.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer for those who Mourn a Stillborn Child
Lord God,
ever caring and gentle,
we commit to your love this little one,
quickened to life for so short a time.
Enfold him/her in eternal life.
We pray for his/her parents
who are saddened by the loss of their child.
Give them courage
and help them in their pain and grief.
May they all meet one day
in the joy and peace of your kingdom.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture Readings for Children Who Died Before Baptism
| Isaiah 25: 6a, 7-8b | The Lord God will destroy death forever. |
| Lamentations 3: 22-26 | It is good to wait in silence for the Lord God to save. |
| Matthew 11: 25-30 | You have hidden these things from the learned and the clever and have revealed them to children. |
| Mark 15: 33-46 | Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. |
| John 129: 25-30 | This is your mother. |
The Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities is grateful to the Reverend Monsignor James P. Moroney, Executive Director, USCCB Secretariat for the Liturgy, for preparing all of the written materials herein and to Dolores M. Daly for the cover illustration. All other illustrations used courtesy of the Adé Bethune Collection, College of St. Catherine Library, St. Paul, MN 55105. All rights reserved.
For additional liturgical resources, please see www.usccb.org/prolife/liturgy and Preaching on Abortion, available from Priests for Life: 888-PFL-3448.