Homily

Homily

Weekend of June 24-26, 2022

On the Overturning of Roe v. Wade

Mass this week – no daily Mass M & Tues; Wed-Th-Fri; it is first Friday but in July and August we do not have Eucharist Devotions just the reg. 8am Mass. 

Bishop Gainer’s statement on Friday’s Supreme Court decision is in Narthex, it is very brief….I wrote a few thoughts of mine own….this will be the homily for today.  I had the homily written based on the reading but I tossed in light of recent news…this one is better, it is shorter.  

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…I was just a few years away from being born when abortion became a constitutional right for women in 1973.  Thank God my mother choose life for me in 1975 when Roe was the law of the land.  My mother did choose life for me even though she and my dad had been married just less than a year and were only 20 years old.  My mom always says that I was really “a honeymoon baby”.  

In all of the 19 years of my priesthood, I have written and prayed thousands of intercessions for the unborn and for the legal protection of the precious gift of life in the womb.  You too have unceasingly prayed many of those prayers with me and many more on your own.  And now God has answered those prayers.  

I would be the first to admit that I never thought Roe would be overturned in my lifetime – especially considering how the moral fabric of our nation continues to be ripped apart.  Friday was a huge victory, a giant leap for life and a much needed blow to the culture of death in which we Christians find ourselves.  And it occurred on the feast day of the Sacred Heart and on the birthday of Nellie Gray, the founder of the March for Life.  It is a big win - not for any one political party - because abortion is not a political issue - but a win for every unborn child who needs our voice.  Abortion is not a political issue, nor is it a religious one…it’s actually a scientific/biological issue.  We have only but to follow the science…we know so much more about fetal development since the early 70’s when Roe was decided; so much more; we now have high tech sonograms and other neofetal technologies – many of which allow us to have a literal “window to the womb.”  We should be all the more wiser and smarter for these – but we are really not.  

We must check our emotions at the doors of this church; we must check our politics at the doors of this church.  We are called to be unequivocally and unapologetically for life.  There is no other way to be for us who claim to be Catholic Christians.  There is no other way to be - no matter what our political party affiliation is.  Do not make an idol out of any political party or any president, past or present – rather, vote God’s position and pray for the wisdom to see it. 

There is a reason the Court struck down clear precedence of almost 50 years.  Roe was wrongly decided – then - and Roe is still wrong today. You cannot find in due process liberties anything which would provide for abortion.  But why then is there so much drama and turmoil over this landmark decision? 

Why so much chaos? Why so many hard-feelings and resentments.  Because as Fr. Szada, our Diocesan Exorcist reminded us….the Devil loves chaos, discord and turmoil!  He makes right seem wrong, and wrong seem so very right.  He is, after all, the Father of Lies and Prince of Darkness.  He has convinced 60 percent of Americans that freedom is unbridled; that their bodies are their own, even when there is another body inside; that they should make decisions on what is most convenient for them at the time; and that their choice is somehow the “trump card” - even though that choice violates the natural and inalienable right of another – and that other is a harmless and innocent baby! 

For women who have had an abortion or men who have directly participated in a abortion, seek now God’s abundant mercy, if you have not already, particularly in the sacrament of Penance A humble and contrite heart God will not spurn.  There is no unforgiveable sin – except that of believing you cannot be forgive.  

For women and men who have been forgiven by our loving God in the sacrament of Penance, trust in that mercy shown to you and so not look back but move forward in faith.  

There is much yet to be done for life. We are not naive to think 

that the war is over.  Now that Roe is overturned, our prayers our intercessions for life will indeed change; they will no longer include mention of that once tragic court decision of ‘73 now assigned to bowels of hell where it rightfully belongs; but the prayers for life will not cease.  They will not cease until all 50 states of this great nation protect the sanctity of life in all of its stages.  

The words of Christ in the Gospel today are challenging, to say the least. In sharp contrast to the prophet Elijah who allows his successor to go back and take care of family matters before taking up the prophetic ministry; Jesus tell those “applying” to be a disciple to put the hand to the plow and not look back.  He calls for total commitment and to follow him unreservedly.  

You know, I remember that very early on in my priesthood, I made a promise to God.  I promised that I would never apologize to any one for speaking on behalf a little baby – on behalf of a baby with its little hands and little fingers and little lips…so wonderfully knitted in its mother’s womb.  And you should not have to apologize either, never.    

Rather… stand up! Speak up! Stop being a coward! Shout this victory from the rooftops! Be proud of who you are; and take pride in your beautiful Catholic Christian faith that prophetically calls out abortion for what it truly is, murder; and dares to reveal the true damage that it does to women.  Reproductive health care?  Says who?  Satan!?  So what if the Church speaks on behalf of the child, so what? Someone has to.    

Let us always remember - and have etched on our hearts - the words of Jesus, who is the Lord of Life: Let the little children come unto me, and do not hinder them…for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belong.