Mary, Mother of the Unborn

Picture by Art Wilhemina

Day of Prayer and Penance for Life January 22, 2007

In all the dioceses of the United States of America, January 22 (or January 23, when January 22 falls on a Sunday) shall be observed as a particular day of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion, and of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life. The Mass “For Peace and Justice” (no. 22 of the “Masses for Various Needs”) should be celebrated with violet vestments as an appropriate liturgical observance for this day.

General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 373

Picture by Mary Cassatt

Preaching for Life

Today the priest has a choice between several different readings. He may preach on the Readings
of the Day, or one of the sets of readings from the Mass for Peace and Justice.

Readings of the Day (Lectionary for Mass, no. 318)

Hebrews 10:1-10 Behold, I come to do your will, O God.

Mark 3:31-35 Whosoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.

Today’s readings urge us to do the will of God. That is the way to be called the brother, the sister, or the mother of the Lord. For what God desires is not burnt offerings or sacrifices, but that we do his will. God’s will is revealed to the little ones and brings about justice, through a proclamation of God’s truth. In the encyclical Evangelium Vitae, Pope John Paul II proclaims the
Gospel of life, the splendour of truth which enlightens consciences, the clear light which corrects the darkened gaze, and the unfailing source of faithfulness and steadfastness in facing the ever new challenges which we meet along our path” (EV, no. 6). This is the truth which all who seek
the will of God are obliged to proclaim.

Readings from the Mass for Peace and Justice

Readings from the Old Testament (Lectionary for Mass, no. 887)

Isaiah 9:1-6 His dominion is vast and forever peaceful (LFM, no. 887)

Isaiah promises that the yoke will be lifted from those unjustly burdened, and the weapons of death and destruction will be smashed. Whenever those who work for life become discouraged,
they should recall that their Lord is the God who can make even the desert bloom, and who created life itself!

Picture: The Prophet Isaiah by James Tissot

Isaiah 57:15-19 Peace, peace for all, both far and near …

There are times we are lost. Times when we feel alone and are not sure where to turn. The young woman who is pregnant knows how that feels. So does the old man who no one visits in
the nursing home. Isaiah reminds them that they are not alone and that God is with every person whose heart aches from loneliness and fear. He knew your name from the day you were
conceived in your mother’s womb. He will be with you up to the moment you pass from this life.

Readings from the New Testament (Lectionary for Mass, no. 889)

Philippians 4:6-9 The peace of God will guard your hearts and minds …

We work for life. We work to promote what is true, honorable, just and pure. There are many ways to achieve this goal. There is political action, teaching, and lobbying. But let us never forget that the most effective way to achieve justice for those unjustly deprived of life is by prayer and petition. While the world may doubt it, it is only by prayer that true change is ever achieved.

Colossians 3:12-15 Let the peace of Christ control your hearts…

Do you love those who fail to love life? What about the abortionist or the legislator who promotes euthanasia? Can you say that you truly love them? Do you pray for them? Saint Paul
tells us how we can win the battle for the Gospel of Life, and it’s a hard saying: “put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, forgiveness, and most of all,
love.” That is the only way that life is ever going to win.

James 3:13-18 The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace …

Ambition, selfishness and ego are the opposite of the humility, love and self-sacrifice which we learn from Christ Jesus upon the altar of the cross. The Gospel of Life is not about what we achieve or get or accomplish. It is about being like Jesus, and being willing to give our lives for the littlest and the least among us.

Gospel Readings (Lectionary for Mass, no. 890)

Picture: Mothers with their children at a Burmese market place

Matthew 5:1-12a Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God …

Who is blessed in the kingdom of God? Is it those who make the cover of news magazines?
Those who receive a Nobel prize or an Academy Award; those with big salaries or advanced degrees? No. In the kingdom of God it is the poorest, the littlest, and the most forgotten who are
truly blessed. And that’s why we work to save their lives.

Matthew 5:38-48 I say to you: offer no resistance to one who is evil …

God’s way is sometimes very difficult. He knows that it is only human to want revenge. He knows that it is only human to want to be the king of the hill. But Christ, the innocent lamb who was led to the slaughter for the sake of our sins, tells us to love. When they insult you… Love. When they beat you… Love. When they kill… Love. For it is only the love of Christ, embraced and lived that can assure the victory of the Gospel of Life in this world.

John 14:23-29 and John 20:19-23 Peace be with you!

The week after Easter is the time to contemplate news that is too good to be true – the news the disciples received while locked in the upper room, hiding from death, which they feared would
soon overcome them. But suddenly, amidst the darkness and fear of death, Jesus appears in their midst and brings with him the peace which the world cannot give. In a world so often filled with
darkness, violence and death, let Jesus into the locked rooms of your heart that he may bring the beauty of the life he has given you, the eternal life which he won for you, and the peace which
brings us perfect joy in him.

Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
3211 4th Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20017-1194
(202) 541-3070

January 22, 2007

Monday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm: Monday 3
Reading 1
Heb 9:15, 24-28

Christ is mediator of a new covenant:
since a death has taken place
for deliverance from transgressions under the first covenant,
those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.

For Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands,
a copy of the true one; but heaven itself,
that he might now appear before God on our behalf.
Not that he might offer himself repeatedly,
as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary
with blood that is not his own;
if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly
from the foundation of the world.
But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages
to take away sin by his sacrifice.
Just as it is appointed that human beings die once,
and after this the judgment, so also Christ,
offered once to take away the sins of many,
will appear a second time, not to take away sin
but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6

R. (1a) Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

Gospel
Mk 3:22-30

The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said of Jesus,

“He is possessed by Beelzebub,” and “By the prince of demons he drives out demons.”

Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables,
“How can Satan drive out Satan?
If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
And if a house is divided against itself,
that house will not be able to stand.
And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided,
he cannot stand;
that is the end of him.
But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property
unless he first ties up the strong man.
Then he can plunder his house.
Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies
that people utter will be forgiven them.
But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit
will never have forgiveness,
but is guilty of an everlasting sin.”
For they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

From: Art.com