silent death
"Jesus explained to them: 'I Myself am the Bread of Life.' " —John 6:35
At Easter time, we celebrate life and the victory of life over death through Jesus' resurrection. Christians are "pro-life" in the most extreme sense of the word. Yet, like Saul, we sometimes find ourselves concurring "in the act of killing" (Acts 8:1). We are pro-life by conviction but pro-death by default.
For example, Saul joined in the mob's murder of Stephen by merely letting the murderers pile their cloaks at his feet (Acts 7:58). He did not touch Stephen. He may not have even touched the cloaks. He just stood there, but that's all it takes to be an accomplice.
Apathy is as deadly as violence. At this Easter season, let's break all ties with death and wash all the blood from our hands. Let's not pretend apathy is innocence but rather repent and decide to wake up, stand up, and speak up for life. Every baby in the womb, starving child, victim of racism, and helpless old person is our business because we are committed to Jesus, "the Resurrection and the Life" (Jn 11:25).
Prayer: Father, I choose life and reject apathy.
Promise: "No one who comes to Me shall ever be hungry." —Jn 6:35
Praise: St. Louis, a missionary and martyr, chose a life of spiritual warfare as he met great spiritual resistance in propagating devotion to the Blessed Mother.
Reference: (For related teaching, order our leaflet, The Challenge of Making Disciples in a Culture of Death, or on audio AV 97-1 and AV 97-3 or on video V-97.)
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 3, 2008
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