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Yesterday was the feast of St. Leo the Great. The Gospel reading was Luke 17:7-10. It presents us with a very challenging message. At the end of this passage, Jesus says:
"So you also, when you have done all that you are ordered to do, say, 'We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!'"
That's a pretty tough message. We all have a tendency to pat ourselves on the back when we've done good work. But Christ is reminding us that we are called to do more. We're called to heroic virtue.
Let's be frank. The vast majority of us are not doing enough for the Kingdom of God. Whether it be feeding the poor, proclaiming the Gospel, working on pro-life matters or helping the sick, we fall short. In fact, most of us are downright lazy and apathetic. I'm just as guilty as anybody on this.
Through the prompting of the Holy Spirit, our conscience tells us that we need to get moving, but too often we settle for mediocrity. We'll cut a cheque to our local charity so that we can appease our conscience and pretend that we've done our share. Or perhaps we'll go to the March for Life once a year so that we can put a little check mark in our minds next to the requirement of doing some good pro-life work. Sorry, but that's not good enough.
Another frequent temptation is to persuade ourselves that we're powerless and that we can only pray. In some cases, this is true, but are we really praying as much as we could? Are we fasting and making sacrifices? In most cases, however, we can do something, even if it's just a little. We can write a letter. We can make a phone call. We can visit somebody. It just takes a little will power.
Christ is asking us to look in the mirror and honestly ask ourselves what more we can do. It's useless to throw our arms up in the air and complain about the state of the world if we aren't doing anything to make a change.
So what are you going to change in your life?
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I'd like to commend my parish priest, Father Richard Siok, rector of St. Patrick's Basilica in Ottawa, for being such a good pro-life witness.
- At every Mass this past weekend, Fr. Siok announced the upcoming 40 days for life, which beings on September 23rd. He exhorted everybody to take part in the vigil and he gave a good testimony of his experience at past 40-days campaigns.
- He committed St. Patrick's for a full day on October 6th and encouraged people to come out and pray.
- Showing true leadership, he has already signed up for the first hour of that day, from midnight to 1 am.
- St. Patrick's hosted Vespers on Sunday, September 20th, as part of the kick-off activities.
- St. Patrick's will also leave the church open for elderly people who can't brave the cold and would prefer holding vigil inside his beautiful Basilica.
Praise God for faithful priests like Father Richard Siok!
Have you ever heard of 40 days for life? It's the best thing to happen to the pro-life movement in a long time. In more than 200 cities across North America (including 7 Canadian cities) pro-lifers will be holding a non-stop peaceful vigil in front of abortion facilities, from September 23 to November 1. That's 24/7 for 40 consecutive days.
The true roots of the Culture of Death are spiritual. Therefore, the only lasting solution will require a spiritual remedy. That's why this period of 40 days of praying, fasting and peaceful witness in front of abortion facilities is so important.
It has been extremely effective in the past in helping pregnant women change their minds about having abortions. Several staff at abortion facilities have also quit. Here in Ottawa, we know of 10 babies that have been saved by this initiative.
Read more at this link. Participate in the 40 days for life campaign in your city. If your city doesn't have 40 days for life, then discuss it with your fellow pro-lifers so that you can organize your own vigil in time for our next 40 days, which will run during the winter of 2010.
