This weekend, I have been asked to give a homily on what seems to be a very specific subject.  This subject is the result of the Roe vs. Wade decision, handed down by the supreme court.  For myself, I can’t just launch into this subject without first reasoning out an approach that supports what I say in a logical fashion.  So, I will attempt to show how Scripture supports what the Church teaches and how we are at least partially responsible for the Roe vs. Wade decision.

At first glance, the Scripture readings we just heard, might seem quite dull.  It seems as though there isn’t anything in the passages that can rouse us up and cause us to change.  We have heard the story of Jonah and Nineveh many times, and Paul is doing what he usually does—warning us that now is the time to change.  In the gospel, Jesus is walking along the beach calling and selecting his disciples.  Sounds like an anti-climatic series of readings.

If we hear the Liturgy of the Word this way, then we are greatly mistaken.  We do have to think a little bit about what we heard, but we don’t want to complicate things by trying to become great thinkers.  Jesus didn’t try to impress great thinkers or develop deep theology.  His message is very simple:  God’s call to salvation is universal.  It is meant for everyone, and he will continue to call us until the day we die.

The preferred answer to God’s call is to acknowledge that we are not the people we should be, and then we should repent.  Part of the concept of repentance is that we change or correct our lifestyle.  Before you tune me out and start thinking of something else, consider the fact that the great saints, many of whom were mystics, stated that conversion was an on going and repeated event in their lives.  They weren’t necessarily lapsing back into sin.  God was simply calling them to a higher level of perfection or awareness of his presence.  To respond to his call, they had to recognize the inadequacies within themselves and change. Think of an elementary school student.  You naturally want the child to advance from one grade to the next.  So it is with us as God continually calls each of us.

It really sounds cut and dried and kind of boring.  So, let’s make it interesting.  I’m going to say that most of us reluctantly answer God’s call.  That is, we remain self-focused because we have compromised ourselves with those things that distract us from putting our lives on a more spiritual level.  We simply can’t detach ourselves from the world.  For example, we are careful not to jeopardize our careers, our retirements--shall I raise my hand now--our entertainment and so on.  Another way we show our reluctance to answer the call to repent and convert is that we don’t take our faith into the world.  Rather, we slightly adjust our faith so we can comfortably live in the world. 

Let me give you a religious example of how we reluctantly answer our call.  Later, I will provide an example that deals more directly with our society and culture.  Attendance at mass on Sunday is an obligation of Catholics.  Is this a true statement?  Of course it is!  We are usually very obedient and show up at mass.  It is good to be obedient.  But the way we really want to approach Sunday mass is to say this is a great opportunity to share with the members of my community to become part of the Eucharist, the thanksgiving sacrifice that causes us to become community.  The Church has chosen one day of the week that is recognized as that special day when all members meet to pray, worship, and gain strength through each other, so that they can increase their faith.  What a difference between obligation and opportunity!  One approach is only obedience, while the other is obedience accompanied by the intent to have a change of heart.  The obligation fulfills a duty; the opportunity allows us to grow more aware of the presence of God among us.  We have to take advantage of this today, right now, because this is the only time we know we have.  Let me rephrase this as Paul would say it.  This moment is the only one we have because the world in its present form is passing away.  More than one person hasn’t made it out of the church building after mass. 

I said that I would give an example of a reluctant answer to God’s call that affects society as well as our faith.  Before I do, let me reiterate that God’s call to salvation is for everyone.  He will willingly accept those who have a change of heart.  So let’s look at what can happen if we don’t live our faith in a way that helps others to grow in their faith.

Does anyone remember what happened on January 22, 1973?  Twenty-four years ago, I was asked to give a sermon, not a homily, on this event.  It was as difficult, and yet easy, as it is today.

On that day, the supreme court of the United States of America gave its decision on Roe vs. Wade. They said that abortion on demand was legal.  These aren’t the exact words and there are many other issues involved, but they do express the net outcome.  The society in which we live, work, and play, said it was OK to kill unborn babies.  Use all the arguments and situations you care to. Use all the terms you can think of and it still boils down to destroying an innocent, defenseless life.  In our society, some people defend animal rights more vigorously than human rights. 

My heart breaks for every girl or woman who feels an abortion is necessary.  I’m frustrated, sad, and ashamed that my faith isn’t strong enough or visible enough for them to give that baby life.  The consolation I have is that God still calls that woman or girl and will welcome her into his arms.  The other consolation I have is my personal faith that these aborted babies are with God.

Abortion seems to have become a common method to correct a mistake.  Good God, how can innocent life be a “mistake”!  The pregnancy might not have been intended, but no human life in whatever stage of development is a mistake.

I am aging.  I am not old yet but I’ve got a running start towards getting old.  Someday, I might not be able to walk or remember or be able to feed myself.  I could become one of those mistakes that our society doesn’t want to care for.  Also, a creative act is required for a pregnancy to occur.  To say that the life that began by this act is unwanted or useless is to declare God’s creation as unwanted or useless.  We, with God, are co-creators when a baby is conceived.

Don’t hold the woman or girl that seeks an abortion totally responsible.  As a society, we are all responsible.  We, as a Church, are also responsible; perhaps more so than society.  Think of the example of the mass as being an obligation versus an opportunity.  If we answer God’s call now, we will calmly, lovingly offer aid to these women, and we will work to overturn Roe vs. Wade.  This work must treat the proponents of this law with respect and compassion.

As a first step to change the law and our hearts, we can pray and venerate the Blessed Sacrament tomorrow after the 9:00 AM. mass until 5:00 PM.  We are to repent, yes, us, repent for ourselves, for our society and the aborted babies their mothers. 

It is not our right to judge the mothers. That is God’s place.  It is our duty to help them and live our lives, in such a manner that they will see the value in our faith.

Today’s readings are the Good News and are worth getting excited about.  God doesn’t give up on us.  For us, he becomes the begging God pleading for us to turn from what is wrong to what is right.  For us, he becomes the ridiculous and weak God, calling us to witness his Son’s death for us.  We are actually that important to God.  That is great news.  Can our faith show the pregnant women and girls that they and the baby they carry are this important to God?

Don’t focus on yourself this week.  Think of this as your assignment--your way of living your faith openly:  “Mission will not happen unless the Church goes beyond its own life out into the active care of the local neighborhood.”  I do not know who said this but I believe it to be true. 

May God bless us all.