THIRTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
(I Kings 17: 10-16; Hebrews 9: 24-28; Mark 12: 38-44)
A writer contrasts the trajectories of two young women. She
wants to show that a primary motive for abortion that feminists propose can be
a lie. In the gospel Jesus will contrast the scribes with the poor widow in a
similar way.
The writer tells of Patricia and Kelly. At nineteen the two
were two months pregnant. Both shed tears because of their lot and considered
aborting their babies. Patricia was a college student like the baby's father.
Kelly worked as a receptionist. Her boyfriend also had a job.
Patricia had the abortion and continued in college. As
almost always in these cases, her boyfriend left her. Later, she enrolled in
law school and eventually landed a position with a prestigious law firm. From
there her career took off. She worked long hours, but she also traveled to
various parts of the world. Not wanting to marry, she had several lovers.
However, at age thirty-five she began to worry about not having her own family.
She then yielded to a man who had long sought her love. Because of having used
contraceptives for years, Patricia could not conceive. Only with in vitro
fertilization did the couple have a child. Patricia celebrated her fifty-fifth
birthday with her husband in Europe. They had to leave their son with a sitter
at home. At the age of sixty-eight, Patricia died of cancer. In her last days
she had some visitors among whom was her son. Her ashes were scattered over the
river in her city.
Kelly, the other young women, was unable to proceed with the
abortion. Her mother was furious at first, but she ultimately helped her. As
almost always in these cases, her boyfriend left her. Within six months Kelly
was experiencing the most acute pain of her life with the birth of her child.
She was then concerned about how she was going to attract a boyfriend if she
had to always take her child with her. But in time she could not imagine life
without her daughter, much less how she ever thought of aborting her. Kelly
married a responsible man, and the two had twins along with Kelly's baby girl.
In fifteen years the lives of the entire family were filled with soccer games
and theatrical plays at the high school which the twins attended. Kelly and her
family celebrated her fiftieth-fifth birthday at a Spaghetti Factory in their
town. The twins already had their careers, and Kelly baby-sat the two children
of her daughter and her son-in-law. At the age of sixty-eight, Kelly also died
of cancer. Many family members and friends visited her before her death, and the
church was filled for her funeral.
Some say abortion is necessary so as not to burden the lives
of young people who become unexpectedly pregnant. But the full lives of
Patricia and Kelly, which seem quite realistic, show that this assumption is at
least questionable. Because life is good and full of possibilities, it is very
possible that in time an abortion will seem tragic to everyone. Meanwhile
raising a child will usually fill a person with great satisfaction.
In the gospel today Jesus comments on two types of people
not very different from Patricia and Kelly. He says that the scribes, who
seem to have everything going for them now, are to be punished. The punishment may take place either before
or after death. Meanwhile, the widow, who gives to the temple all that she has,
already has found the Lord's approval. Her prize in heaven will be even
greater.
