Nobody said it would be easy.
Those who strive to defend the right to life in this society know what a
difficult struggle it is, and also know how many different approaches, tactics,
and strategies there are. Is it possible to identify, in the midst of the
variety of methods, common and essential ingredients that every pro-lifer must
utilize?
It should be obvious, first of all, that we cannot rely on human strength
alone. Prayer is essential. We rely on God. Prayer takes so many forms, but is
always a turning to God, a reaching beyond our limited resources to a strength
that is unlimited. Prayer must pervade all we do.
Some may think, however, that all they need to do is pray. Martin
Luther King noted that to think human action is sufficient is arrogance, but to
think prayer alone is sufficient is superstition. Prayer alone is not enough; in
fact, it can become an escape for those unwilling to step out and do more.
Prayer leads to action. Prayer is not simply asking God to do something. Prayer
is opening our soul wide enough for God to come in and do something through
us! Prayer is union with God, a God who is vibrant and active. When we come
in touch with Him, we touch the Fire. We burn with a restless energy that always
seeks to do more.
So two essential ingredients, intimately linked, are prayer and action.
But that's not enough. There is a third element, harder than these, and
Christ tells us what it is. "Do this in memory of Me," he commands. Do what?
What He did was to give His Body and shed His blood. He suffered. Christ did not
save the world primarily through His preaching or miracles, but through His
cross. "We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee, for by Thy Holy Cross
Thou hast redeemed the world." We who strive to save the world from abortion
must suffer with Christ. It has been said that the false god transforms
suffering into violence, but the true God transforms violence into suffering. We
are called to transform the violence of abortion by our own suffering. We are to
be like lightning rods amidst an awful storm of destruction and death raging
around us. We stand tall amid the storm and say to God, "Use me, O Lord, to
transform this violence; I am willing to suffer for the sake of life." "Do this
in memory of Me." Yes, Lord. This is my body, my blood, my life, offered to You
for the sake of Your children, their mothers, their world.
Prayer, work, and suffering: the three essential ingredients. Nobody said it
would be easy. But that's OK. It is enough to know it works.
