Pro-life Corner: SUNDAY, January 29, 2012

For several years, submitting a 'Pro-life Corner' post for the weekly bulletin in several churches has been a part of my pro-life efforts. It was only natural to carry this idea into the new pro-life direction of my blog. Priests for Life has been the source for Pro-life Corner posts. Their materials are generously offered  for distribution and they simply ask for credit. These pro-life posts coincide with the Church calendar and 'contain three elements: a one-paragraph bulletin insert, General Intercessions, and suggestions for drawing pro-life themes out of the Sunday reading for the homily'. I will share all three elements every Sunday in an effort help us all think with a pro-life heart.


As is the practice over at the Catholic Sistas, a blog to which I contribute, Sunday posts will be scheduled ahead of time in order to leave that day for Church and family.



BULLETIN INSERT:

“Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person -- among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you” (Jer 1:5; cf Job 10:8-12; Ps 22:10-11). “My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately wrought in the depths of the earth” (Ps. 139:15). Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable.” -- Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 2270-2271 

GENERAL INTERCESSIONS:

That the Church may be an example to the world of what it means to grow in the love of God and to share his love with others, we pray to the Lord...

That world leaders may serve the needs of all people with wisdom and compassion, we pray to the Lord...

That each of us may be the Lord's prophets by speaking up for vulnerable people -- both born and unborn -- who cannot speak for themselves, we pray to the Lord...

That the sick and suffering and all who work with them may effectively communicate the gentle love that Jesus has for them, we pray to the Lord...

That our national sporting events may promote character, unity, and virtue in our personal and social lives, we pray to the Lord...

That the Catholic schools of our nation may be strengthened in their spiritual and educational mission, we pray to the Lord...

That all who have died may be united to the risen Christ in the heavenly kingdom, we pray to the Lord...

HOMILY SUGGESTIONS:

Dt 18:15-20
1 Cor 7:32-35
Mk 1:21-28

The Gospel and First Reading for this Sunday raise the issue of the authority of those who speak the Word of God. Jesus taught with authority because he is the Word of God. The prophets taught with authority because God put his own words into their mouths. The Church today teaches with authority because, as the Body of Christ, she continues his teaching mission or, to be more precise, Christ himself continues teaching through his Church. Each member of the Church, by virtue of baptism and confirmation, has a prophetic role, and echoes the Word of God himself, both by words and example.

These themes are important in the battle between the Culture of Life and the Culture of Death, because our opponents ask why we are “imposing our morality on everyone else.” In reality, however, we are not imposing anything. We are speaking a truth which is not our own, and which simply reflects the reality of how we are made and what the moral law is. If anything is “imposed,” it has already been imposed by God. We are witnesses to him. We have no authority of our own; we simply proclaim his Word. By that fact, moreover, we are equally bound by what we proclaim as are those to whom we proclaim it.

This is why the proclamation of the pro-life message does not imply some kind of moral superiority on the part of those who proclaim it. Rather, it implies solidarity, and a common acknowledgement of the God of life, who is Lord of those who preach and those who hear.

Pro-Life Liturgical Resources: Fourth Sunday Ordinary Time, Cycle B , January 29 ~Priests for Life