Much gratitude to His Excellency, Bishop William Waltersheid, for agreeing to submit a reflection for our 40 Days for Life blog each Thursday during this fall campaign:
What is the Answer…
As we find ourselves immersed in a culture of violence, hatred, hostile speech, division, and confusion, we hear different people tell us what we really need to make our country and our world a better place. If only we do this, or if only we do that, or if only you do not have the power, or if only I have the power, then all will be better. The result of this manner of thinking is often anger and bad will and the resolve to use whatever is necessary to achieve a person’s or a group’s goal, even to the point of taking another person’s life. We see it happen, as violent crime abounds every day in our streets, and especially in our major cities.
Over and over again, we see people suffer who are attacked, physically harmed or killed. In the majority of these cases, it is the vulnerable in our midst who most often become the victims of this culture of violence and death. The poor, the uneducated, those with disabilities, those in difficult situations, those who have been abused often experience more violence in their life.
Their suffering is not limited to physical harm. Emotional and spiritual pain is inflicted upon victims as well. We see this in a horrific way when the most vulnerable in our society, those who are still in the wombs of their mothers, do not suffer only by some injustice experienced in society, but have their life taken from them in painful and barbaric ways by starvation, or poisoning, or suctioning their body apart with a vacuum, or using instruments to tear a tiny body apart, or by forcing them into cardiac arrest by medications. Their mothers and others family members tell us that they carry emotional and spiritual scars and pain from aborting a child. What does that pain do to the pre-born child who has been created to be loved and nurtured?
So, we must ask ourselves, “What is the answer to the violence, killing, and the words of hate that surround us today?” The answer is not an ideology or a political conviction. It is not power or influence or wealth. The answer is the Person of Jesus Christ. We read in St. John’s Gospel, “For God so loved the world, that he gave us his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent him the into the world, not to condemn the world, but that world might be saved through him.” (Jn 3:16-17) Jesus is the remedy for the ills of the world today. We must encounter Him, know Him and be in union with Him. If we do this, if more and more people do this, our culture will become a culture of life and not of death. Our civilization will become a civilization of love and not a seedbed of violence and hatred.
Jesus came to teach us to love and not to hate, to foster life and not to destroy it, to embrace in charity and not to do harm to others. Our Lord taught us in St. Matthew’s Gospel, when He was asked which is the great commandment, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.“ (Mt 22:37-40) Yes, it is true that we should try to build up a society that is better for everyone, that promotes the common good. We are called to reach out to those in need and those who are vulnerable and in danger. We also recognize that we live in the world but are not of the world.(Cf Jn 17:14-16; Rm 12:2) Our destination is the Kingdom of God. We must never forget that Christ is our King, Savior, and Lord who teaches us how to love one another and how to be heaven-bound as we walk the road of life.
Our country must return to the love and mercy of God. We must return to Jesus who did not hesitate to go to the wood of the Cross to save us from evil, sin darkness and violence. Only He can do this for us. What is the answer, my brothers and sisters? It is the Lord Jesus Himself, Love and Mercy made flesh!
“Jesus, I trust in You!”
Most Reverend William J. Waltersheid
Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh
Keep reading to find out what happened on Day Two of our 40 Days for Life vigil…
Nikki & Randy – 7:30-9:30am
First Thursday of the 40 days, and was a rainy one! No matter, at least it wasn’t cold. I managed to set up all the sidewalk materials with Randy holding the umbrella over my head the whole time…very grateful for that! Only employees went in for the first hour, and then one couple entered around 8:45. The rain makes for a more quiet and peaceful shift, usually. People aren’t as likely to stop and argue when it’s raining, so it was nice.
A young homeless girl with no shoes walked by. I see her often, but never with shoes. I had once walked over to Burlington, bought shoes and gave them to her…but when I saw her the next time, she was shoeless. I guess she just doesn’t like wearing shoes. Anyway, as I was thinking about her, and looking at the very dead potted plant that is currently on the sidewalk, I thought about the uselessness of the rain that was watering that dead plant…and the uselessness of giving shoes to someone who is determined to walk barefoot. It made me reflect on the uselessness of “works” without faith. You know, how we sometimes think we can, by our own strength, accomplish something…like ending abortion. Without the power of God…without being born again…being baptized and giving our lives to the Lord…all our works are just like that rain watering the dead plant. Just a reminder to myself to keep my faith front and center in my life!
Peggy 9:30 – 11:30
(From Peggy) – Un-eventful shift… just rain, rain, and more rain! Prayers, prayers and more prayers!
Debbie 11am – 2pm…news of a baby saved during this shift!!!
From Ed, (pictured above) – A man and his girlfriend came out of PP, and when I approached them to offer alternative help, he said they changed their mind and decided to keep the baby! I was able to give them the free local resources for women pamphlet before they ran across the street and up Smithfield.
Carolyn – 1-3pm
Pete & Bill D 3-5 pm
Please pray for the couple that told me they changed their mind and decided to keep their child. They are a teenage couple and will need slot of support. I wanted to have a longer conversations with them to encourage them to follow up with a pregnancy center from our literature and to pray with them. I am grateful for all you prayer warriors outside the death mill praying the rosery and other prayers. They do make a difference. 3 wonderful ladies were praying the rosery when the young man told me they changed their mind. Praise God only the Holy Spirit could have influenced them. So your presence and prayers matter, please join us to pray alongside the side walk advocates. It was a blessed moment in a usually sad shift today.
We need to hand out any of the business cards that has any particular PRC on it or all of the Pregnancy centers on it —and especially Birthright cards.
I know when I worked regularly on the sidewalk every week I would always have the small cards with me and give them to the men or anyone who would take them.
Why?
They’re easy to slip into your pocket. Of course, they’re easy to toss away to as I’ve seen them on the streets.
But a prayer following the giving of the PRC business card, puts it in the hands of the Holy Spirit.
Thank you Bishop Waltersheid for sharing your thoughts with us! So encouraging!