Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children
Do you remember in grade school, when sides had to be chosen for anything, from spelling bees to inside games to outside games? There was always that sinking feeling of when, or even if, you would be chosen. I’m sure those embarrassing and often painful childhood experiences are handled differently these days.
My point is that “being chosen,” at whatever age or circumstance, is a profound experience. It changes the way you see yourself. You may have many self-doubts, but when you are chosen, you know you must have some worth, and now is the opportunity to respond.
From a Biblical point of view the concept of a “chosen people” and “chosen servants” can be found throughout the bible. Every deliberate choice of God becomes a revelation of God’s relationship to the chosen person and God’s intentions for that person.
In the course of time for our sake, God revealed the fullness of His choice of Jesus at the Transfiguration. “This is my beloved son, my Chosen One, listen to him.” (Luke 9:35)
How does this affect us? Very deeply. After the Resurrection, God sent the Spirit of the Risen Christ to all of us. From that moment, the Spirit of Christ guarantees that every living human being is permanently chosen by God! This marvelous fact of being chosen in God’s love spans the whole spectrum of human life from the womb to the last breath of the dying. Imagine the difference it would make if we truly realized that all of our brothers and sisters are truly God’s chosen ones! How dare we would have the arrogance to think we can ignore, reject, or injure God’s chosen ones!
Today in the United States, we observe a Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. May our prayer today come from our deep conviction that each person, especially the unborn, is God’s chosen one in Christ and we must do all we can to reverence that choice.
Reflection by Fr. Daniel Petsche, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections