Protecting the vulnerable people with prayer, word and deed
Reflections on the readings for the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children (January 22, 2019): HEB 6:10-20; PS 111:1-2,4-5,9-10; MK 2:23-28
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
All the dioceses of the United States of America join today in praying for the legal protection of unborn children.
We also commit ourselves to penance for violations to the dignity of all persons. As we thank God for His love for each of His children, we can pray, “I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart in the company and assembly of the just. Great are the works of the Lord, exquisite in all their delights” (Psalm 111:1-2).
We should use this day not just for private prayer, but also to support our fellow parishioners and other members of our community in promoting the right of all human beings to both life and dignity. We can consider the words of St. John Paul II, “A society will be judged on the basis of how it treats its weakest members; and among the most vulnerable are surely the unborn and the dying.” We can also commit ourselves to working for a true culture of life throughout the year. We can do this through our parishes and other organizations that offer guidance and material aid in helping our neighbors choose life.
Suggested missionary action: Let us remember the weakest, the most vulnerable in our world in prayer, and all who lift them up in service.