DAY 36
DAY 36
While flying on the plane early this morning to join the 40 Days for Life in Sacramento, California, I was remembering back to when Bryan/College Station, Texas conducted the first-ever 40 Days for Life campaign in the Fall of 2004.
By Day 36 we were wiped out. We were counting the hours until the end of the 40 days so we could rest.
However, as we near the end of this fall’s nationwide 40 Days for Life campaign — and the lifesaving success stories keep pouring in — something very different is happening…
Nobody wants to stop!
I’m getting numerous e-mails every day like these:
“I think we must stay on this and not pull back.”
“Just so you know, we aren’t stopping down here in Florida. Too many people are really committed and they just don’t feel they can just stop after 40 Days. You don’t mind do you? :-)”
“40 Days For Life has brought about many miracles, and all the testimonies over these days have attested to some of them. The fact that Planned Parenthood is running scared is fantastic news. Isn’t there some way to keep this fabulous movement going? We can’t stop now… this has proven way to effective to stop. There are many many more Planned Parenthood facilities to be prayed over. My local one in Stamford is one of them. What else can be done? We don’t want the abortionists to feel a victory once our forces are gone…”
Just last night at a gathering in Fargo, North Dakota, a young man named Patrick rolled over to me in his wheelchair and said, “Mr. Bereit, I hope you aren’t offended by this, but we simply can’t stop!”
Everyone standing around voiced their agreement, and they all began to talk about ways they could keep the momentum building — across their state — long after the end of 40 Days for Life this Sunday, November 4.
You see, North Dakota has closed down every abortion facility in their state except ONE…
…And that one facility is now being covered in prayer 24 hours a day by the 40 Days for Life vigil!
The people of North Dakota are committed to press on in their work, because they firmly believe that they will be the first abortion-free state in America.
With the level of determination I witnessed — and with God’s help — perhaps they will.
I hope you look on that as a friendly challenge…
Is YOUR state willing to keep going and try to be the first abortion-free state?
With all of the amazing victories that God has blessed our nation with over these past 36 days, we simply must press on, realizing that “to whom much is given, much is required.”
Let’s continue to march forward until that day when no more women cry and no more children die!
Here’s your devotional for the day by Fr. Frank Pavone…
INTENTION:
Pray that we become vessels of hope to all around us, especially to those who minister in the pro-life movement.
SCRIPTURE:
“On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!’”
– Luke 24:1-5
REFLECTION:
I share with you today this inspiring meditation based on a sermon I once heard, and adapted to the concerns of the pro-life movement.
It’s Friday. Jesus is on the cross. He has been killed by his enemies; he is off the scene. But that’s because it’s Friday. Sunday’s comin’!
It’s Friday. Mary is weeping in bitter grief; the disciples are fleeing in all directions, confused and afraid. But that’s because it’s Friday. Sunday’s comin’!
It’s Friday. Pilate is washing his hands; the Pharisees are calling the shots; the Roman soldiers are strutting around with their spears. But that’s because it’s Friday. Sunday’s comin’!
It’s Friday. The forces that oppress the poor and abandon the lowly and trample upon the rights of the weak, making them suffer and robbing them of hope, are in control. But that’s because it’s Friday. Sunday’s comin’!
It’s Friday. Satan is doing his dance, and he thinks he rules the world. Governments do his bidding, and businesses do his work, and institutions are at his command. But that’s because it’s Friday. Sunday’s comin’!
It’s Friday. Abortionists continue their work 4,000 times a day, tearing off the arms and legs of little babies and crushing their heads. But that’s because it’s Friday. Sunday’s comin’!
It’s Friday. Pro-abortion groups put out their hands and receive blood money from billionaires who are as deceived as they are. But that’s because it’s Friday. Sunday’s comin’!
It’s Friday. Liars attempt to speak for all women and hide the pain of abortion, and ignore the evidence of how it harms women, and call abortion a blessing. But that’s because it’s Friday. Sunday’s comin’!
It’s Friday. Judicial activists have their way, writing the law instead of applying it, ignoring the will of the American people and allowing abortion to continue. But that’s because it’s Friday. Sunday’s comin’!
It’s Friday. People of hardened hearts guard their abortion clinics and usher desperate women in to have their abortions, while keeping them from the pro-life people who want to give them hope. But that’s because it’s Friday. Sunday’s comin’!
It’s Friday. Many preachers of God’s word are silent in the face of all these evils, as they spend more energy calculating how to keep safe from lawyers than how to keep safe from the wrath of God. But that’s because it’s Friday. Sunday’s comin’!
Hope does not mean that we ignore or minimize the evils around us. It means, rather, that we see the whole picture, which is that evil is conquered because of what happened one Sunday morning.
The power of sin and death has been broken by the Resurrection of Christ. We are called to proclaim, celebrate, and serve that victory, waiting in joyful hope for Christ’s return and the full flowering of the Culture of Life!
Indeed, Sunday’s comin’!
PRAYER:
Lord, fill your people with new hope. We are fully aware of the evils that are around us. We know that in so many ways, it’s Friday. But we also know that Sunday is coming.
We know that the kingdom of darkness has been conquered, and that a new Kingdom has been established among us.
Make us vessels of hope to all around us, especially to those who minister in the pro-life movement, that as we engage in the difficult work ahead, we may experience the peace and joy that come only from you and that nobody can take away from us.
We ask this through Christ our Lord, AMEN.