Editor’s Note: LifeSiteNews published Mary Wagner’s explanation of her April 16 pro-life witness at Everywoman’s Health Centre in Vancouver.
“I looked in vain for compassion, for consolers; not one could I find.” (Psalm 69)
Why should Christians go to these places where tiny babies not yet born are being killed? “Whatsoever you did to one of the least of my brothers, you did it to me… Whatever you failed to do to one of the least of my brothers, you failed to do it to me.” (Matthew 25:40)
Our Lord calls us to recognize his face in the face of our brother, our sister, especially those who are most forgotten. Every woman who enters a facility for the purpose of ending her pregnancy by aborting her baby is Jesus –in the words of St. Teresa of Calcutta –in his “distressing disguise.” The child within her womb, whom we cannot see, is Jesus; he is begging for even one person to show him compassion and consolation.
Our presence at these places where God’s littlest children are being put to death is a response to God, who is Love, Who has loved us first. He Who has loved us from all eternity is there, abandoned by His own and facing execution again, as He did on Calvary. May He lead us there in the spirit of repentance, going to console Him in his agony, to pray for our brothers and sisters, to do what we can, with His grace, to bring His Light and Love where there is otherwise only darkness and contempt.
If our eyes lead us to notice and care about the person we can see who is without a home, cold and hungry, and without a friend, will we close the eyes of our heart to the helpless baby about to be fatally evicted from her only viable home? As Our Blessed Mother hastened to her pregnant cousin Elizabeth in her time of need. Let us, too, hasten to the mothers and children in desperate need of His Light and Love. As she stood at the cross, suffering close to her Son as he endured the agony of the crucifixion, let us too remain with them.
“Today if you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” (Psalm 95:8)
For too many “todays” I have hardened my heart. Love took on flesh to show us a greater love, love died in the flesh and rose again to show us “no greater love” and love receives as done to Himself whatever I do or fail to do for “one of the least of these” (Mt.25:40), my brother or sister in the flesh.
“Love one another as I have loved you.” (Jn.13:34) I have not loved as He has loved me. I cannot love as He has loved me. We cannot love You as You have loved us. With your help, Lord, let us begin again.
