Wednesday of the
Second Week in Ordinary Time (Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn
Children)
(I Samuel 17:32-33.37.40-51; Mark 3:1-6)
A national Catholic newspaper predicted that tens of
thousands would attend today’s “March for Life” in Washington. Given the typically cold weather there in
late January, the number is not small. Rather
it is indicative of the great courage of the pro-life movement. The marchers prove themselves true disciples
of Jesus who in the gospel today also displays untypical courage.
The situation almost sounds like a scam. The Pharisees, looking for grounds to
persecute Jesus, perch themselves in the synagogue on the Sabbath to examine
his actions. A man with a withered hand serves
as their bait. Despite his awareness of
the Pharisees’ design, Jesus invites the disabled man forward. Defiantly he asks if it is not lawful to cure
on the Sabbath. The Pharisees cower in
silence. Then Jesus boldly cures the
lame hand.
Abortion is the proverbial elephant in the room that few
wish to talk about. All people know that
the fetus is a human life which deserves protection. But they often prefer to say nothing probably
because prohibiting abortion means curtailing sexual activity which many believe
that they cannot live happily without. We
need to bravely express the stark truth about abortion whether by marching in
the cold or by button-holing associates.
