Grief does strange things to us. It can keep us from seeing what is really going on in our lives, and prevent us from recognizing some of the most significant people we know.

On Easter morning, Mary Magdalene stood weeping by the tomb. Jesus himself stood there. But, St. John's Gospel tells us, "she did not know him" and supposed it was the gardener. "'Woman,' he asked her, 'Why are you weeping? Who is it you are looking for?'" The very cause of her grief was about to be removed by the one asking her about it. Little did she know that the reason for her weeping had already been destroyed. The Lord was present.

On Easter afternoon, two of the first Christians were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus, "discussing as they went all that had happened. In the course of their lively exchange, Jesus approached and began to walk along with them. However, they were restrained from recognizing him. He said to them, 'What are you discussing as you go your way?'" Again, the very reason for their grief had been destroyed by the One now asking them about their grief. The Lord was present and was walking with them. Their hearts began to burn within them.

As the Church continues to deal with the tragedy of abortion, she faces not only a sin against life, but a sin against hope. We do not see "abortion" walking down the street. What we see is a woman, a child of God, who is caught in the grip of despair. Even if she knows abortion is wrong, as most do, she sees no other way out. She, too, is in grief. She feels she must choose between the baby's life and her life. The prospect of having the child is, psychologically, like a "death" to her: a death to her plans, her freedom, her future.

Grief does strange things. It can blind us to the value of the child.

It can also blind us to the presence of the Lord. He walks with us in our grief, and He asks us to share it with Him so He can remove it forever. Just as the Lord was present on the first Easter to those who thought they had lost Him, so is He present today to those who grieve. He is present to those whose fear and despair are so great that they have their own children killed.

The Lord is present to others through His Church. We, the People of Life, enter into dialogue with the mother tempted to abort. "Why are you weeping?" We learn her needs and fears, and we
show her she is not alone. We walk with her, as the Lord walked with His grieving disciples. We provide hope. We speak her name, we break bread with her, we lead her to the company of the other disciples, we bring her to the strength of the Eucharist.

Abortion will flee in the presence of Easter hope. The Lord still walks with his people.
 

Father Pavone is the International Director of Priests for Life
and an official at the Vatican’s Council for the Family.

Contact Priests for Life at P.O. Box 141172, Staten Island, N.Y. 10314, Tel. 888 1PFL-3448, fax 718-980-6515, email pfl@priestsforlife.org, web site http://www.priestsforlife.org/.

Copyright ©1999 Arlington Catholic Herald, Inc. All rights reserved.

This article was published in the Arlington Catholic Herald,
200 N. Glebe Rd., Suite 607, Arlington, VA 22203; Vol 24, No 10,
dated Mar 11, 1999, on page 5.
.
E-mail: letters@catholicherald.com
Fax: 703/524-2782;
Editorial: 703/841-2590;
Advertising: 703/841-2594;
Circulation: 703/841-2565

Send a letter (preferable) or email to your u.s. Senators and congressman using the the Directory at the Congressional Email Directory.  It is easy  - just Point and click here to navigate to their web site

A note from the Web Master:

It is noteworthy and honorable that some folks are willing to stand up for a ban on Partial-Birth Abortion.  Let us not forget that Abortion is also murder.  We must understand that murder is still murder no matter the method.  Because one method of abortion seems to be horrifying does not justify the other less repugnant methods.  We should be sickened by any Abortion regardless of the method.  The Fifth Commandment spells it out clearly: "Thou shalt not kill."  A fetus is a person, a human being with a God given soul.  Imagine the pain the Lord must feel when any Abortion occurs.  Please, please, please contact your Senators and Congressman, via letter or phone,  to let him/her know how upset you are that Abortions are legal and to pass and support  legislation to stop Partial-Birth Abortions and all other Abortions as soon as possible.

(It has become apparent that they do not respond to email therefore you will have more of an impact by writing or telephoning.)

Return to Pro Life Corner

---


Todays Date: