As I stood along the roadway yesterday for an hour participating in Life Chain, I was deeply saddened by the folks who gave us thumbs down, flipped us off, or yelled profanities at us. It is difficult for me to understand how people can be so adamant in wanting to be able to legally kill unborn children for any reason. It also begs a broader and deeper question regarding the sanctity of all human life.
Why are we surprised and shocked when events like the Las Vegas shooting happen? If the life of the most vulnerable among us is not protected, why would we feel safe and secure at any stage of life? A culture of death has consumed us. We now live with the consequences of creating that culture. Abortion, physician-assisted suicide, and euthanasia have paved the way for death and destruction at all levels of society. In these legal killings medications and medical procedures are used to bring about death. Illegal killings are brought about utilizing a multitude of weapons--guns, knives, bombs, vehicles, chemicals, etc. The end result is the same--dead people and broken dreams.
After each incident of this type a feeling or sense of despair may creep into our mindset. What can I do? I am only one person. Let us ask the Lord for fervor. Let us be fervent in our prayer life. Let us love our neighbor with fervor. Let's make a difference in our little corner of the world and begin a ripple effect of goodness and holiness.
There have been estimates in Catholicism that only 4% to 7% of the people are really active and invested in the faith. Statistically we know that only 25% to 35% of the people attend Mass on a regular (weekly) basis. Of those, even fewer are truly active in the life of the Church beyond Sunday attendance. Thus, it is time for complacency and apathy to be kicked to the curb. What changes are you willing to make in your life?
Holy Guardian Angels--protect us!
Jesus Our Savior--have mercy upon us!