As we celebrate Respect Life Sunday this weekend, our scriptures offer us a message of encouragement that speaks directly to our calling to be people of life. The prophet Habakkuk voices a cry we may recognize: “How long, O Lord?” He sees violence and injustice and wonders why God seems silent. God’s answer is clear—remain faithful, hold on to the vision, for “the just one shall live by faith.” This same call echoes for us today as we uphold the dignity of every human life, even when the world around us appears indifferent.
The Psalm urges us, “If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” Each of us is tempted at times to turn away from the cries of the vulnerable - whether the unborn, the elderly, the poor, or the forgotten. Yet the Lord calls us to soften our hearts, to remain open, and to respond with compassion and courage.
Jesus tells us in the Gospel that even faith the size of a mustard seed can do what seems impossible. Like the servant in the parable, we do not seek recognition, but simply do the work entrusted to us. The work of being a servant is another way of living that is frowned upon in our culture. The second portion of the gospel might be difficult for people of this century to understand. At the time of Jesus, it was not unusual for someone to have a servant. But throughout the scriptures, the connotation of servant is not always understood negatively. While the role of the servant in today's gospel may strike a negative chord in us, it is helpful to keep in mind that both Jesus and his mother Mary, along with many other persons in the Bible, are referred to as servants of God. And should we not also be referred to in the same way?
Our parish must always be a place where life is welcomed, protected, and cherished - from conception to natural death. We are called to support mothers and fathers in need, to pray and work for just laws, and to form our children in a culture of reverence for life. Above all, we are called to trust that God’s vision will come to fruition if we remain faithful. Please review the many great materials concerning life on the table in the narthex of our Church.
Let us pray this week for a renewed spirit of faith, that our parish may be a beacon of hope and a witness to the Gospel of Life. May we never harden our hearts, but allow the Lord to guide us in defending and celebrating the precious gift of life.
God Bless,
