14th Sunday - Roe vs Wade - Birth of a Nation

 

Isaiah the prophet said, “As nurslings, you shall be carried in her arms and fondled in her lap; as a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you;”

This weekend we are celebrating the birth of our nation. In 1776, we became our own country. Our nation is 246 years old and in four years we will be celebrating 250 years. Our country has had many battles, but the greatest battle we have had, is the battle for human dignity.

We called Indians, savages, with no rights. We looked upon blacks, as slaves. Did you know at the beginning of our country, Catholics were unable to vote? It was not until 1919, women could vote. But worst of all, we could legally kill our own children. We looked at unborn babies as genetic material, blobs of tissue. Even up to the moment of birth, a child has no right to life, liberty or the pursuit of happiness.

Indians are not humans. Blacks are not humans. Unborn babies are not humans. Good grief! Only the devil would come up with these lies and in our fallen nature, we believe them.

However, thanks be to God, last week Friday, June 24^th was a historic day for our nation. The overturning of Roe vs Wade was a victory for life and for human rights. On June 24^th every year its celebrated as the Birth of John the Baptist, but this year the feast was transferred to June 23^rd, because the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart fell on the 24^th. The day of the announcement was a day of rejoicing and thanksgiving to God.

On June 24^th, the Heart of Jesus was moved with compassion and chose to honor the birth of John the Baptist to prepare the way for the Solemnity of the Heart of Jesus.

Recall, at the Visitation, when John was an unborn baby in the womb of his mother, St. Elizabeth, he became aware of the unborn baby Jesus in the womb of Mary. Jesus was only 5 days from conception, because that’s how long it took for Mary to travel to the town if AinKarem, where she lived. Scripture tells, Mary went in haste to visit her cousin, Elizabeth, who was with child.

We know Elizabeth was 6 months pregnant when Mary and the unborn Jesus came to her. John the Baptist had a beating heart, but the divine Child Jesus did not. Our heart begins to beat about 5 ½ weeks after conception. Yet, He was not a blob of tissue. He was not just genetic material. Jesus is a divine person. He fully took on our human nature from the moment of His conception. The unborn Jesus in the womb of His Mother, just 5 days from conception, blessed John the Baptist in the womb of his mother, Elizabeth.

The prophet, Jeremiah, speaks of John the Baptist, when he said, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born, I sanctified you; and I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” John the Baptist would be the prophet, who would prepare the way for the Lord by calling people to repentance. He was sanctified in the womb of his mother, due to the presence of the unborn Jesus in the womb of Mary.

By the birth of John the Baptist feast day, preceding the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, it is clearly a call to repentance. God in His wisdom, chose the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, as the day He overturned Roe vs Wade. What He is surely telling us, is that His Heart is beating, throbbing and is open, to bestow His mercy on everyone.

He wants the world to know He loves us with an infinite and unfathomable love and is ready to embrace us by pouring out His mercy into the soul of every sinner. He wants to heal the brokenhearted girl, who is confused and hurting. She was told lies, such as its a blob of tissue, or she pressured into getting an abortion by her parents or boyfriend or school counselor or friend.

Jesus wants to heal every broken heart. Not only those who have had an abortion, but also the abortionists, the nurses and staff who work at an abortion clinic.

He wants us to heal the hearts of those who are confused and find themselves promoting the killing of unborn children. Many have been duped by the devil with the slogan, “My body, my choice.” But, what about the body of the baby? What about the choice of the baby? Why is there no love or compassion for another human being? For a mother’s own child?

Perhaps due to one’s family circumstances, not having the father at home, or a single mother who works, and so a child is alone at home and becomes confused because he or she is not experiencing love at home. Or maybe the person was verbally or physically abused by a parent.

And so later in life, these people who suffer from emotional wounds from their family life, finds themselves not understanding how to love. Their pain causes them to overly self-focused on their own hurts and therefore are blind to the needs of others, especially the unborn.

Sometimes, one’s life revolves around pleasing oneself, and not making sacrifices for others. As Mother Teresa of Calcutta said, “It is poverty to decide a child must die, so that you may live as you wish.” To choose to have an abortion, to have a larger house, to travel places, to go to college, to be free, to do whatever we want, is unbridled selfishness and totally self-focused. One lacks self-gift and self-sacrifice.

The baby boy, whose birth, we celebrated last Thursday, John the Baptist, is calling our nation to repentance, and at the same time the love of the Heart of Jesus is present to bestow His mercy on everyone. Jesus shows us, by the wound in His Heart, how to love and to love is at times painful.

A heart that loves, endures pain. It suffers pain when seeing another suffer. Who can stand to watch anyone suffer? Our heart is moved to do something. So, Jesus’ Heart is moved with pity for us because many in our nation are suffering from sin, especially selfishness and abortion.

Jesus’ Heart is like what Isaiah the prophet speaks. “As nurslings, you shall be carried in her arms and fondled in her lap; as a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you;” Out of love for us, Jesus wants to pick up those who are hurting from their own sins, and hold us near to His Heart. He wants to fondle us, in His lap, as a mother comforts her child.

There is a temptation to think, the more children I have, the less happier I will be. But the opposite is true. The more children we have, the bigger our heart grows. When we care for children, we learn to love in new ways. Rather, than serving and pleasing, me, myself and I, we learn to please our spouse, our children and most importantly, to please God. Our heart moves from selfishness to self-sacrifice.

Think about what it was like when you had your first child. Oh, the joy, the amazing experience of seeing another you. A new person, you helped bring into the world. But then, in the middle of the night is the crying. At first, we run to see what’s wrong. Is the child hungry? Did he wet his pants? Does he want be cuddled? Or is he sick? Soon our heart grows to feeling empathy for the child. We wonder what’s wrong. Do you have a tummy ache? Are you in pain? We are moved by compassion to see the misery of the child and to console him. We want to comfort the child, to caress the child, to kiss the child, to hug the child, because our heart grows to love.

But, as the child grows older, he learns by making a fuss, he can get what he wants. Then we have to teach discipline, to say no. It is loving to say no. To teach the child to sacrifice, rather than to obtain instant pleasure.

Parents learn to sacrifice themselves for their families. Imagine for a moment the father of the home, who works for 40 years at the same job, and the entire time he works there, he can’t stand his boss or his job, but he doesn’t complain. He just keeps showing up and doing his job. Why? Because, he loves his family, and wants to provide for them. He is willing to suffer for them.

Our country is blessed because of all our freedoms. But, we didn’t just wake up one morning and have them. Many Americans died for them. People died for the rights of Indians and for the rights of blacks. Are we willing to die for rights of unborn babies, so they can live the American dream. So they can have life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? The battle today is not in some foreign war. Its a battle in the womb. Its a spiritual battle caused by the forces of evil who hate human beings. But, Our divine Lord is here to pick up the pieces, by forgiving us, bestowing His mercy upon us, and loving us as His children.

A 33 day novena started on July 1^st and will go until Aug. 2^nd, the day of the election. During the novena everyone is asked to daily pray the Fr. Kapaun prayer. To daily pray the Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, to offer your Holy Communions, your graces at Mass, your time with Jesus during you Holy Hour for the unborn.

Catholics are the powerhouse of the world, because we have the sacraments and the saints. Only we have the physical presence of Jesus in the tabernacle. Our Church was founded by Christ. Its up to us, and through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary to lead our country to defeat the ruler of this world, Satan. So pick up the sword of faith and fight for life.

I would like to close with a quote from Pope St. John the Paul II. “America you are beautiful . . . and blessed . . . . The ultimate test of your greatness is the way you treat every human being, but especially the weakest and most defenseless. If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life.”