THE BOTTOM LINE:

"DO YOU LOVE ME" (Jn 21:15)

by Fr. Jim Whalen, National Director, Priests for Life Canada

1996, Issue 1 (Fall)

Jesus had a way of cutting to the truth, the bottom line. When Simon Peter, our first Pope, was asked this basic fundamental question by Jesus, He replied: "You know I love you." (Jn 21: 15, 16, 17). Jesus gave him the command "Feed My Lambs". (Jn 21: 15, 16, 17). Our Lord is not satisfied with mere words. This is brought to our attention: "Let us love...in deed and in truth." (1 Jn: 3:18). "Feed my Lambs" in terms of pro-life issues can be seen as having the highest priority in our mandate.

Pope John Paul II reminds us, that we are called to build a civilization of love and peace, a 'Culture of Life'. (Letter to families, 1994). Mother Teresa stated clearly there can be no peace as long as we have abortion. Like St. Joseph, the just man, who protected Jesus, before and after birth, we must be willing to struggle for justice: "Do Justice." (Isa 1:10-17). Christ's basic conditions for peace are clear: "Seek you first the kingdom of God and his justice and all these things shall be added unto you." (Luke 12:31). Jesus was the innocent victim, the lamb who was crucified for our sake, to save us. Do we love Him enough to accept to carry the cross, to be persecuted, to be put on the cross and suffer for the sake of His innocent lambs? Abortion and euthanasia are not options for us. Victimizing the handicapped and the elderly is not acceptable.

Innocent victims are being nailed on the cross. This abomination must stop. (50 million yearly in the world; 300 daily in Canada). Many have forgotten the way of the Cross. God's plan and blueprints for pro-life and family life are being rejected by many, but the negatives are still preserved in scripture. St. Teresa of Avila reminds us: "Let nothing stand in the way of accomplishing the work given by God." We are determined to make Canada Christian again. We have been promised moral evil will be overcome by the triumphant cross: "Making peace through the Blood of His Cross". (Col 1:20). The war against children, moments of great catastrophe, are often the eves of great spiritual renaissance. Pray that it is so. "I will give you treasures out of the darkness". (Isa 45:3). +