The Community at Prayer
Reflection by Father Paul M. Baca
January 23, 2011, 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
See the readings
Reflecting on the shooting and massacre in Arizona, I have been wondering, Where do all these people, the families of those who were killed and the many who were injured and their families, find solace? After all, for sometime now we have been bombarded with a pro-life mindset that means nothing to me. As we read and hear these words, you can in their stead substitute anti-abortion. I like to hear people who seriously reflect on what it means to be pro-life and all the implications therein. The many who have been reaching out to them speak volumes about pro-life: loving concern, compassion, willingness to do whatever they can to lighten the burden of grief and suffering.
My friend, Father Antonio Mondragon, loves Albuquerque but he cannot live here because of the pollution in the air which his lungs cannot handle. Yet there are many of the opinion that the environment doesn't really matter. Clean air is pro-life.
Recently people have died because they were denied organ transplants since they had no insurance coverage. Healthcare is pro-life.
Our little Community at Prayer has made it a priority to do all we can to help the Felician Sisters provide food for the needy through St. Felix Pantry. Feeding the hungry is pro-life.
The work of St. Vincent de Paul is pro-life.
Justice, in all its phases, is pro-life.
The worker who is paid a salary to take care of his or her family and live a life with dignity is pro-life.
Elected officials working for the common good and not their own gain is pro-life.
Treating each other with respect is pro-life.
Acknowledging what is good in each other is pro-life.
Respecting a person's good name is pro-life.
Efforts made in behalf of justice and peace are pro-life.
The availability of a good education is pro-life.
Helping people to face the end of life and being present to them is pro-life.
The work of good firefighters and police is pro-life, as is the healing work of doctors and nurses; the work of educators is pro-life.
Bombing abortion clinics and killing the doctors and nurses who work there is not pro-life nor does it diminish the number of abortions.
These are a few of the thoughts we should entertain if we consider ourselves really 'pro-life.' These do not minimize the taking of a life by murder, abortion, unjust war, reckless driving, overindulgence, or neglecting proper health care.
I totally believe that those present at that political gathering in Arizona and everyone who has reached out to them in many ways has a good grasp of pro-life. For us who are blessed with the teachings of Jesus and our church, we know that this is God's will. Where do we find solace and hope of better things to come as is so beautifully expressed by the prophet Isaiah in our First Reading. "Anguish has taken wing, dispelled is darkness for there is no gloom where but now there was distress. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom, a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing as they rejoice before the harvest ... for the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder and the rod of their taskmaster you have smashed as on the day of Midian." Wouldn't it be a blessing if everyone were pro-life the way Jesus meant it to be, and not as the politicians preach it. There is just so much to pro-life other than preventing abortion.
Please feel free to add your own thoughts on what 'pro-life' really means in our everyday lives. Thankfully we live in a country that treasures personal freedom so we should respect other religions and opinions so that we can continue the conversation on what is right and what is wrong ... and what would be better.