DAY 26: Love is the way
The 40 Days for Life team in El Paso, Texas recently shared Cristina’s story about a very special woman. Simply put, Cristina said her friend Espy “is one of the best sidewalk counselors that I have ever met. I have seen miracles happen through Espy’s work outside of the abortion clinic.”
In 12 years of serving as a sidewalk counselor, Espy always seemed to have exactly the right thing to say in any situation … whether she was speaking to a woman seeking an abortion, to someone suffering in the wake of an abortion — or to a member of the abortion center staff.
In regard to the abortion workers, Espy learned how powerful love is. “Love is the way,” she would say.
“She has given a smile to abortion clinic workers and even hugs,” Cristina said. “Not just that, but she has been there to listen to the clinic workers as they shared their personal problems.” These people know that Espy loves them and prays for them. “She has given her life to the pro-life ministry,” Cristina said.
But Espy hadn’t been seen on the sidewalk for quite a while. About a year ago, she had a stroke. She uses a wheel chair and has difficulty speaking now, but in spite of the challenges she will tell you, “God is good.”
Staff members at the facility have noticed Espy’s absence and have told prayer vigil participants that they were worried about her. Just last week, Espy asked Cristina to take her to the abortion center so she could say hi.
“I called the clinic administrator and let her know that Espy was outside waiting to see all of them,” said Cristina. “To my surprise, the workers walked outside to meet us! Espy with all her heart wanted to give them a hug and a kiss, so she did — and they did, too! Espy was crying — and they were crying, too.”
They gave her many hugs of love and respect. The director, the one that used to confront Espy and the one that used to tell her, “Go home!” now told her, “Espy we miss you. When are we going to see you outside again?”
“This was a miracle,” said Cristina; “a miracle of love. Espy is still working; God is still using Espy to show His love, His mercy, His power. Espy is an example to all of us that want to follow God’s plan.
“She is an example that God is working. God is teaching. God is transforming. God is converting. God is alive inside those places of death. God is alive in Espy! May God bless Espy and the abortion providers that they together with us see Jesus one day, face to face!”
By the way, Espy’s full name is Esperanza. The English translation of this beautiful Spanish name — Hope!
Today’s devotional is from Fr. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life.
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DAY 26 INTENTION
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Pray that we fully recognize in the unborn child our brother, our sister, and we recommit ourselves to care for them.
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SCRIPTURE
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Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”
“I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.”
– Genesis 4:8-10
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REFLECTION
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After Cain committed the first murder in human history, God asked him, “Where is your brother?”
He replied by saying, “I don’t know.”
In 1973, the Supreme Court was asked the same question, and gave the same answer.
Unable to admit that the unborn children are our brothers and sisters, the Supreme Court said in its Roe v. Wade ruling, “We need not resolve the difficult question of when life begins.”
Boil all that down to three words, and it’s, “I don’t know.”
The question, “Where is your brother?” will be asked at the final judgment. Each person will answer it and be judged by it. May we be judged to have recognized and loved all our brothers and sisters, born and unborn.
By participating in the 40 Days for Life, we have been answering that question each day, going to where our brothers and sisters are killed, and proclaiming that we have a responsibility to them.
By all the pro-life work we will continue to do, we likewise answer that question which reaches from one end of human history to the other.
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PRAYER
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Father, today we hear your voice, and we respond to the question you ask each of us: “Where is your brother?”
We recognize in the unborn child our brother, our sister, and we recommit ourselves today to care for them.
Yes, Father, you have entrusted us to the care of one another. We rejoice that you have given us the grace to respond.
As we work to renew our culture, we look forward to the great day of the coming of your Son, when every eye will see him, even of those who pierced him, and every knee shall bend, and every tongue confess, to the glory of God the Father, that Jesus Christ is Lord! Amen.
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PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
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To download today’s devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends:
http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2010day26print.pdf
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Have a blessed Sunday, and know how much I appreciate you!
Yours for Life,
David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life
PS: Are there special people in your town who are making a difference with your 40 Days for Life campaign? Please share the good news by replying below.
March 14th, 2010 at 8:26 am
Matthew 25: 40
” The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’
Father we thank you for the grace and mercy that you have extended to us. Help us to show that same mercy and grace to our brothers and sisters. Thy Kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
March 14th, 2010 at 10:08 am
God Bless all of you. Pray, Pray, Pray. My daily rosary is for you. God is with all of you that are praying in front of the clinics. This is a beautiful witness. Stay strong
March 14th, 2010 at 12:01 pm
Let us all pray for an end to abortion in the world.
March 14th, 2010 at 12:09 pm
We need more people like Espy, with their love and devotion to our Lord Jesus Christ and bring the love to his lost sheep. We are the choosen ones whom our Lord Jesus Christ has appointed to lead his lost sheep out the pasture into his loving arms.
March 14th, 2010 at 2:22 pm
In the readings for today’s Mass, St. Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians reminds us, “[we] are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, . . . Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them [. . .]”
Jesus, in the Gospel according to John says, “[. . .] I am the light of the world.” Nonetheless, even in opening the eyes of the man born with blindness, He was rejected by the Pharisees, men of law. Concerning Father Pavone’s reflection for today, how different are our men and women of law today, from that of Jesus’ day?
How many eyes that have been opened by the efforts of Esperanza, and all whom expose the works of darkness, we will never know. Thankfully, God does.
March 14th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
It is most encouraging to hear these wonderful reports of how God is working through His people.
Love NEVER fails!! I heard a song once that carried just this message——-”it’s your kindness that leads us to repentance O Lord”
That one line reverberates in my mind!!!!
It truly will be our love and kindness that will turn hardened hearts.
God bless—-I am united with all of you spiritually every day!!!
March 14th, 2010 at 6:38 pm
Love is God. Love is the way!
March 14th, 2010 at 7:46 pm
I want to tell you about a very special person helping with the Vancouver, Washington 40 Days for Life campaign. He is Jerry Ross. I first met Jerry about a year ago when I helped with the 40 Days for Life winter/spring 2009 campaign. He was the coordinator for the prayer vigil at one of the Planned Parenthood abortion clinics in Vancouver.
I quickly noticed how devoted to the cause he was. Jerry commutes about 45 minutes from his home to come down to help in Vancouver. He is a member of Clark Co. Right to Life and a catholic church near his home. The groups he worked with had participated in vigils at the Longview, Washington Planned Parenthood and eventually it was closed. So Jerry decided to work to end abortion at the Vancouver clinic.
He was there at the Vancouver abortion clinic a lot of the time as the coordinator to make sure hours were covered. He would come around 8 or 9 in the morning and stay all day on his day. Even when it was terrible weather Jerry drove down and was out there in pouring down rain. After the campaign Jerry continued to come on Thursdays all year round because he heard the abortions take place on Thursdays. I am part of a small group that meets on Thursdays with him although we only stay an hour or two. Jerry, himself, is there all day.
Now that the winter/spring 40 Days for Life campaign has started Jerry again is helping with coordinating and stepped up to be there all day on Wednesday because they needed to fill that day. He also heard they needed to cover some hours on Friday so he volunteered to do that too.
He is great to work and pray with. He knows the clinic schedule, who the abortionist and staff is and never hesitates to talk and pass out literature to those coming and going to the clinic. I have never heard Jerry complain even though it is freezing cold or very hot and not too comfortable outside. Most of the people who work nearby give us support for the cause but every once in awhile we get some negative feedback and Jerry always takes it in stride. Everywhere he goes he talks to people about the cause and tries to get more support for 40 Days and Pro Life work. What an inspiration to all of us. Thank you Jerry!
March 15th, 2010 at 3:00 am
With God, there is always hope. Thank YOU Esperanza and Cristina
March 17th, 2010 at 6:17 pm
It was such a moving account of Jerry’s love for the Lord and the unborn babies. It greatly touched my heart and motivated me to do more. Thank you for sharing Claire.