Deacon Ron's Homily, Homily and video on Respect Life , Ordinary Time, Week 27 – Cycle A

In the today’s parable we hear about the vineyard owner has put great care into cultivating the land, planting the vines, and protecting the vineyard only to be disappointed when his vineyards aren’t fruitful. The owner of the vineyard in the parable represents God.   Just as the vineyard owner was disappointed in the lack of produce, God is disappointed when man’s ways are not fruitful and don’t respect human life.

This month of October is set aside by the bishops of the United States as Respect Life Month (click for video from USCCB) , a time to reflect on life issues and to pray for and promote greater respect for all human life. This year’s theme is “Each of us is a masterpiece of God’s creation,” and is adapted from Pope Francis’ Day for Life from last year.  Pope Francis, who has captivated the world with his humility and compassion, shows through his actions that “even the weakest and most vulnerable, the sick, the old, the unborn and the poor, are masterpieces of God’s creation, made in his own image, destined to live forever, and deserving of the utmost reverence and respect We want to live in society that supports the protection of human rights at all phases of life. Yet many of those who are weak and vulnerable are neglected and forgotten about. There are forces in the culture that don’t value human life and look at things only from a cost perspective and efficiency. 

An example of this are the many children pre-diagnosed as having Downs Syndrome, who are never given the chance to live outside their mother’s wombs. This week I heard a story from a mom about her thriving 9 year-old adopted son with Downs Syndrome. She considers it a miracle for him to be alive.  Her son was born at 25 weeks, just barely viable to live outside the mothers’ womb, and spent 15 weeks in the hospital before coming home.  The medical expense for the stay was a half million dollars. Just two days before he was born the birth mother sought an abortion thinking it to be her only option to the situation.  Through the grace of God she chose to give her baby up for adoption. It’s amazing that in two days the child’s life went from being of no value, to being of an immense importance. The child should have same rights before he was born as well as after.

In another story a woman from Oregon, who had been in remission from lung cancer, had a recurrence of the cancer. Her doctor prescribed a drug that would increase her chance of being alive in one year by 45%, but the state medical plan denied it as being to expensive for her prognosis.  The state was willing to offer full coverage for her assisted suicide.

Many people are faced with issues like these that cause great anxiety.  How are we to make decisions that support life? St. Paul tells us to offer prayers to make our requests known to God and we’ll receive peace to guard our hearts and minds.    We may still have our problems, but we have the peace of knowing God is there with us.  We can also turn to the Church to help us discern what to do. Our priests, deacons, and lay ministers can help us to determine what to do based on the truth of Church teachings and direct us to resources to help.

How are we to respond to a culture that promotes ways contrary to respecting the dignity of life?    We can do so by learning about church teaching and supporting ministries that promote a culture of life.  One way is to get involved in the 40 Days forLife Prayer campaign at the Planned Parenthood facility at 86^th St. and Georgetown Road with our parish on Saturdays from 11 am - 3pm through November 2.   Joining in this peaceful prayer vigil will show woman in crisis pregnancies that they are care for and loved. 

The Gabriel Project in our parish supports women throughout their pregnancy and after the child’s birth.  You can get involved today by supporting the baby shower drive after Mass in the Narthex. Saint Elizabeth Coleman pregnancy and adoption services, is an archdiocesan ministry, providing support and counseling to women before and after the child is born.  If you or someone you know has been affected by an abortion, they need our love and support, and the healing mercy of the Church.  The Project Rachel Ministry is available to help those struggling with pain and grief from the loss of their child.

The sick, the aged, and the imprisoned are often forgotten about, but we have ministries to outreach to them as well. Visiting people who are sick or homebound can help keep them connected with the parish community. Those who are imprisoned still need spiritual care. Each Friday visits are made to the Johnson County Catholic Jail by deacons a lay people.  We also have parish members who bring Christ prisons through the Kairos Prison Ministry.

How can we influence our society to support a culture of life?  By becoming engaged in our political process to influence our lawmakers.   The Indiana Catholic Conference makes it easy to stay informed on legislation that effect life issues and to contact your representative. You can sign up to stay informed by signing up on the Indiana Catholic Conference web site.

God’s desires all of us all to be fruitful and have respect for all life from conception to natural death.   Please do all you can to support and share with others our Church’s teaching that all human life is of immense value.  Get involved and support life-affirming ministries, not only this month, but also all year. Last, please pray for our culture and the respect of life, and may God’s peace be with you.