I would like to start this pastor's column with two scripture passages that are certainly worthy of reflection. The first is Psalm 139:13-14 which says "For you created my inmost being: you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." My sister, Judy has recently become a grandmother for the third time and is now in
Texarkana helping her son and daughter-in-law with ittle Evelyn (who they named after my mother). This morning she wrote "I love these little newborns; it reminds you what a miracle birth is." The author who wrote Psalm 139 and my sister would both agree with the statement that a child is a remarkable and wonderful gift from God! The second scripture passage is from the Gospel of Luke when the child, John the Baptist leaped in his mother's womb as Mary, who was pregnant with Jesus, "entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth" (Luke 1:40). Elizabeth, filled and inspired by the Holy Spirit, spoke of the child in Mary as the "fruit" of your womb (Lk 1:42), referred to Mary as the "mother of my Lord" (Lk 1:43), and believed that the child in her womb was "leaping for joy". (Lk 1:44). It is sad indeed that so many mothers-to-be throughout history have not felt as the Psalmist, Elizabeth, Mary and Rebecca (Becca) the mother of newborn Evelyn did about the child in their womb and/or the child in other women's wombs. If they all did, aborting (ending the life of the child in their womb) would not be
contemplated, much less be done. It is the call of every generation to impress upon its young people just how precious a child is inside and outside of a mother's womb and do all that it can to support a mother-to-be after she finds out she is pregnant. How far we are from such a society when the concept of abortion is "out there" so much and the right to life of all babies in their mother's womb is ignored and really trampled on when abortion is presented as an option and a "right" for these mothers-to-be to exercise if they wish to do so. How sad it is that in the society we live in whose technology is more and more advanced to the point where we can see and support the child in the mother's womb, that instead of puttng more dollars into prenatal screening and support, some are suggesting that more money (including tax money) should be going to support the killing of the child while in its mother's womb and promoting no limits on when she can do this at any time during her pregnancy. If, outside of the context of this pastor's column I or you or anyone posed or were asked to answer this question: "of the three unalienable rights that all humans are given by their creator" according to the Declaration of Independence, life liberty and the pursuit of happiness, which of these MUST come first and of most importance, you would hear or I hope, say life, because without the right to life, these other two could not happen.
Texarkana helping her son and daughter-in-law with ittle Evelyn (who they named after my mother). This morning she wrote "I love these little newborns; it reminds you what a miracle birth is." The author who wrote Psalm 139 and my sister would both agree with the statement that a child is a remarkable and wonderful gift from God! The second scripture passage is from the Gospel of Luke when the child, John the Baptist leaped in his mother's womb as Mary, who was pregnant with Jesus, "entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth" (Luke 1:40). Elizabeth, filled and inspired by the Holy Spirit, spoke of the child in Mary as the "fruit" of your womb (Lk 1:42), referred to Mary as the "mother of my Lord" (Lk 1:43), and believed that the child in her womb was "leaping for joy". (Lk 1:44). It is sad indeed that so many mothers-to-be throughout history have not felt as the Psalmist, Elizabeth, Mary and Rebecca (Becca) the mother of newborn Evelyn did about the child in their womb and/or the child in other women's wombs. If they all did, aborting (ending the life of the child in their womb) would not be
contemplated, much less be done. It is the call of every generation to impress upon its young people just how precious a child is inside and outside of a mother's womb and do all that it can to support a mother-to-be after she finds out she is pregnant. How far we are from such a society when the concept of abortion is "out there" so much and the right to life of all babies in their mother's womb is ignored and really trampled on when abortion is presented as an option and a "right" for these mothers-to-be to exercise if they wish to do so. How sad it is that in the society we live in whose technology is more and more advanced to the point where we can see and support the child in the mother's womb, that instead of puttng more dollars into prenatal screening and support, some are suggesting that more money (including tax money) should be going to support the killing of the child while in its mother's womb and promoting no limits on when she can do this at any time during her pregnancy. If, outside of the context of this pastor's column I or you or anyone posed or were asked to answer this question: "of the three unalienable rights that all humans are given by their creator" according to the Declaration of Independence, life liberty and the pursuit of happiness, which of these MUST come first and of most importance, you would hear or I hope, say life, because without the right to life, these other two could not happen.
At one of our social justice and charitable outreach commission meetings, a discussion was held about the "crosses for life" which are about to appear once again on the front lawn of the church. The crosses, for those who don't know, represent the lives of children who have been aborted from their mother's womb and have been denied the opportunity and "right" to come into this world and come to know, love and serve God! The allowance and even promotion of abortion in our life-times, is one of the most abhorrent of realities that we have lived through and led the late Pope (and now) Saint John Paul II to call our times a culture of death, rather than a culture of life. Add to this the senseless and ongoing killing of people that continues to happen through gun violence and other means and we have to say that the killing of people (especially those innocents inside and outside of the wombs) keeps us in a darkness that we must decry and combat through the light and life that is Jesus Christ! Getting back to the crosses for life, there was discussion about whether the crosses are necessary any more given the overturning of the Roe v Wade decision by our Supreme Court which was a huge legal step, but unfortunately did not speak of every human being's "right to life" which is so foundational for a society to be moral and obedient to a God who creates life and NOT death! While at this point, (and hopefully in the future) abortions are now illegal in Arkansas, given the efforts of our state legislature and governor to establish such laws, we are still facing the possibility that an amendment to our state constitution might still appear on the ballot this November which would, if passed, allow abortions to happen legally in our state for years to come. If anything, we should not only put up the crosses this year FOR SURE, but cooperate with efforts to defeat that amendment at the ballot box (if God-forbid it is on the ballot) and elect people on the state AND national level who are truly and fully pro-life, protecting and promoting human life from the womb to the tomb. The reality is that the pro-abortion supporters are strong on the national level and have been spurred on rather than deterred (or even converted) since the overturning of Roe v Wade. We have to be even stronger in speaking up for the God-given right to life, over those who would WRONGLY put the right to liberty first and give it free reign to decide which lives should be protected and which shouldn't. It goes without saying that prayers need to be prayed daily for strength and courage for those who are striving to protect and promote the gift of human life AND conversion especially in those who implicitly or explicitly are promoting its destruction!
It is normal (and I say wonderful) each week to have flowers donated to add to the beauty of our altar area, from at least one couple who is celebrating a wedding anniversary sometime around that weekend. Last weekend was NOT normal in that we had four couples celebrating anniversaries that were significant. Two were celebrating fifty years of marriage, one sixty, and another sixty-six years! While there are obviously many blessings associated with marriages that are so long-standing, these and other couples can tell you there are challenges as well, especially declining health in mind and/or body. Sometimes the decline is more pronounced in one than the other, sometimes both have some serious issues. One version of the Catholic wedding vows says, "I promise to be faithful to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love you and honor you, all the days of my life." I will comment on the last part of those vows at another time. Right now, I want to address the promise to be faithful "in sickness and in health". What is the commitment to be "faithful" to one's spouse when the other is sick (or in declining health). More often than not, the healthy (or healthier) spouse does their best and in more than a few instances is heroic in taking care of their spouse on their own twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Over time, this can be overwhelming to the caregiver and start taking a toll on their mental and physical health. While seeking to care for the couple's spiritual needs, which I'm confident is a blessing for them (and for me), I sometimes urge the healthier spouse to look into getting some help for the sake of them, the caregiver as well as the one who is in a situation of sickness or decline. When one promises to be faithful to one's spouse in sickness or in health, in my opinion, that does NOT mean being the one (especially the sole person) who cares for them. I am so happy when I find out that a couple has agreed to have home health, or some kind of home care come in regularly to help. At times I have also been pleased (and even relieved) when a couple makes a difficult, but good decision to move into an assisted living place where one or both of them has help daily and someone (including a nurse) 24 hours a day whenever a need arises. Sometimes such a move is local and sometimes it takes a couple closer in proximity to a child or other family member.
I pray that all of you who are in such a situation now or will be in the future, will be open and will act sooner than later to get help for one or both of the spouses who have needs that are not realistic for them or their spouse to satisfy 24/7. If you are not sure where to start call one of our Helping Hands coordinators, Cathy Wedwick (501 915-8456) or Pat Widlowski (501 922-1395) and they will give you some helpful contacts to try.
Please know, as well, that I and this parish community want to support our couples AND single people in any way we can! You are brothers and sisters in the Lord and we want to help!
I pray that all of you who are in such a situation now or will be in the future, will be open and will act sooner than later to get help for one or both of the spouses who have needs that are not realistic for them or their spouse to satisfy 24/7. If you are not sure where to start call one of our Helping Hands coordinators, Cathy Wedwick (501 915-8456) or Pat Widlowski (501 922-1395) and they will give you some helpful contacts to try.
Please know, as well, that I and this parish community want to support our couples AND single people in any way we can! You are brothers and sisters in the Lord and we want to help!