NE BEAUTIFUL Sunday afternoon, the first of October, I was
standing in front of Health Sciences Centre on Sherbrook
Street, with a group of about 200 other people, praying the
Rosary while we held up signs asking God to forgive us and
pleading for a stop to the monstrosity of abortion.
Normally I am not too big on public demonstrations, marches or the like. I do not relish being a public spectacle, particularly where there is the potential of getting some flack from passers-by. (Hey, what can I say? I guess I'm just a sensitive, nineties-kind-of-guy.)
The immensity of the abortion problem is unimaginable. We speak of the number of pregnancies a given institution terminates per day! It boggles the mind.
Often, proponents of abortion tend to be extremely vocal about their position. Christians who dare to express that a baby should not be killed, are loudly maligned and subjected to passionate harangues on intolerance or comparable subjects.
We need to go public with what we believe. Jesus said, "If anyone in this adulterous and sinful generation is ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels"(Mk 8:38).
Maybe a procession, parade or picket isn't exactly your cup of tea. (You won't get an argument from me!) We still need to stand up and be counted for what we believe in. Do my co-workers know about Jesus's love, or about my stand for life? My neighbours? My family and friends?
There is a not-so-old saying: If you were made to stand trial, charged with being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? If you are not sure about it today, then you can use today to ensure that a year from now there will be... or maybe tomorrow.
Enjoy the issue.
- M.F.
