Hello out there! Peace and blessings on this beautiful new day the Lord has made! This morning I sat down with a cup of coffee at the kitchen table and began to read the daily scriptures from my Magnificat. Jim had already read them - he gets up before I do! I began reading the scriptures for today and my eyes welled up with tears. I looked at Jim and he knew from the look on my face, that I was fixing to remind him of something, that I had a story to share.
I wish this story would have a different ending but it doesn't. It's a story of perseverance, about not giving up even when things don't seem to change. The scriptures I read are the exact readings from a Sunday in mid-January 2013 and from a Pro-Life Mass in January 2019. I wrote a story for my blog after the Mass in 2019 and I will share it after I finish this post.
January 22, 2013 - the 40th anniversary of Roe v Wade - making abortion legal in all fifty states of the United States. January 22, 2019 - the 46th anniversary... and today is January 16, 2022 and this Saturday will be the 49th anniversary. I pray that there will not be a 50th anniversary, but whether there is or not the pro-life message must continue on until eyes are opened to see, and ears opened to hear, and hearts are touched to know that a baby is not a choice. The following phrase is one I repeat often on social media; Planned or unplanned, a crisis pregnancy or a much prayed for pregnancy, a baby is a baby. We must work diligently to teach our youth and society as a whole about the gift of life. I started my blog almost eight years ago because I wanted to share stories about life, families, marriage, faith, adoption, information, etc. and not necessarily in that order - I had so much I wanted to share, so much to say and sometimes my message may seem like a repeat but it's because what I share is the truth and sometimes you have to hear things over and over again before you get it - before your eyes are opened! I keep on persevering and so do thousands upon thousands of others because we know that an unplanned pregnancy does not make that baby's life less human than a baby who was planned! Respecting life from the moment of conception through natural death.
Isaiah 62:1-5
For Zion's sake I will not be silent, for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet, until her vindication shines forth like the dawn and her victory like a burning torch. (Read through verse 5 for the rest of the scripture from today's 1st reading)
We all have different gifts and talents. I have not always been a writer - I'm a homemaker and keep books for my husband's business. In July 2013 I read an article in the newspaper that put a fire in my heart and a response of words in my mind and on my lips. I could not write in my spiral notepad fast enough. The words rushed forth and that was the beginning - God had given me a gift I didn't even know I had until that day - and probably wasn't supposed to have until that day. God's time, not ours - I know you've heard that saying before. The next scripture is from today's second reading and I will share the share the whole reading.
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
Brothers and Sisters: There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom; to another, the expression of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another, faith by the same Spirit; to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit; to another, mighty deeds; to another, prophecy; to another, discernment of spirits; to another, varieties of tongues; to another, interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing them individually to each person as he wishes.
The Gospel reading for today is one of my many favorites -
John 2:1-11
There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short , the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, "Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servers, "Do whatever he tells you." (Continue reading verses 6-11)
The wedding at Cana is a beautiful story and I hope you will read the rest of it - I stopped at the end of verse five because I want you to reflect on Mother Mary's words - "Do whatever he tells you." Wow! What a message! Do whatever Jesus is telling you to do! Think about how the first reading from Isaiah and the second reading from First Corinthians and the Gospel reading from John all go together so well - these scriptures speak loudly to me - we all have different gifts from the Holy Spirit! What is your gift - have you asked? Do these scriptures speak to you?
God is always with us and more times than not we just need to listen for His words, His voice, and not the words of this world.
If you read my post from 2019 I know you will see how this all ties together!
Sunday, January 20, 2019
Open My Ears, Lord - I Want to Hear Your Voice
The scriptures for last night really touched my heart. I listened to the words from
God and tears welled up in my eyes. I've read these scriptures before and they
always "speak" to me. Being a pro-life advocate is very important to me but there
are many times when I wonder if anyone is listening. In January of 2013 I asked
our priest if I could speak at the end of Mass. I wanted to invite people to come and
pray in front of the Planned Parenthood (which closed eight months later) on Fridays
during the Spring 40 Days for Life Campaign. I was given permission and spoke
after each Mass that weekend. I had a table with sign-up sheets out in the vestibule
and I would hurry out there as soon as I finished speaking. After the Saturday night
Mass only one person signed up - my sister-in-law. I went home and told Jim that
I just didn't know what to do. I didn't sleep very well that night. I tossed and turned
and prayed. I asked God to please give me the words because no one seemed to
be listening. The next morning I got ready for the 10:00 am Mass. Jim could tell
that I was down and he told me not to give up. To make a long story short, I ended
up being the Lector/Reader that morning. The person who was signed up did not
show up and I was asked to step in. I had not read the scriptures before hand because
I wasn't scheduled for that weekend. The following is the first sentence from the
first reading:
Isaiah 62:1-5
For Zion's sake I will not be silent, for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet,
until her vindication shines forth like the dawn and her victory like a
burning torch.
To this day, I remember how my heart began to beat as I realized, "God has given
me the words, these are the words! I will not be silent - I will not be quiet!"
Needless to say - my voice rang out strong as I invited people to sign up that
day - and you know what? - They did, they signed up and they came out and
prayed!
Six years has passed and my voice has grown stronger. Oh, there are days when
I am tired, frustrated, and just need a short break. But for the most part -
God's words - the words I asked Him for - keep me going, for when I am weak,
He is strong.
Let's put on our battle armor and vow not to be silent because the unborn babies
need our voices to ring out strong.
Ephesians 6:10-17
Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and his mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. Our battle is not against human forces but against the principalities and powers, the rulers of this world of darkness, the evil spirits in regions above. You must put on the armor of God if you are to resist on the evil day; do all that your duty requires, and hold your ground. Stand fast, with the truth as the belt around your waist, justice as your breastplate, and zeal to propagate the gospel of peace as your footgear. In all circumstances hold faith up before you as your shield; it will help you extinguish the fiery darts of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, the word of God.
Let us join our prayers together.
Please God, open our eyes to what You want us to see.
Open our ears to what You want us to hear.
Give us the courage and strength we need to do Your will at all times.
In Jesus' Holy Name we pray, Amen.
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