Reclaiming Our Children

Jesus Christ is Lord

Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
something to be grasped.

Rather, he emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness;
and found human in appearance,
he humbled himself,
becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.

Because of this, God greatly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
which is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

 

 

Overcoming the World

It is difficult to read today’s first reading and not think of the things going on in the world today. It seems Christians, especially Catholics, are persecuted more and more.

We are put to the test as many seek to taunt us, ridicule and attack many of our beliefs without
understanding our victory is in the Lord.

Our victory, like that of Christ does not come in this world, it comes in overcoming the world. The cross appears to be a symbol of defeat, but we know in the cross is salvation.

As we enter Holy Week, let's continue to trust in the Lord knowing the battle is already won.

 

In Front of You is MERCY!

"You might be miseria (in misery) but standing right in front of you is Misericordia (mercy)."

Fr. Barron offers a great meditation today, one that everyone struggling with healing and forgiveness from abortion should read!

Lent Day 38 – Saints and Sinners by Fr. Robert Barron

Why worry excessively about what came before? Why obsess over your past sins? God is much more interested in your future than in your past. We have a God who “makes all things new.” And in that we find hope.

It is a sad commentary indeed, but religious people are often tempted to trap others in their past, nail them to the cross of the mistakes they have made, using religion itself to affect this imprisonment. This is as true today as it was in the time of Christ when the mob brought the woman caught in adultery before him.

In one of the great one-liners of the entire Bible, Jesus disarms them: “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Our solidarity in sin ought to awaken in us a greater compassion for one another. At this prompting, they drifted away, one by one until Jesus was left alone with the woman.

Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.” How rich is that little word, “Go.” Again, what is being emphasized is the future not the past, straining on to what lies ahead, not obsessing with what lies behind.

Do you feel terribly imprisoned by your past? Perhaps you’ve done something terrible, something awful and shameful and every time you think of it, you cringe. Or perhaps someone has harmed you so severely that you just can’t let go of the hurt and you continue to seethe with resentment. Perhaps you feel that you’ve done something so wrong that not even God can forgive you. You don’t even bother going to confession because you’re just too ashamed, convinced that God wouldn’t forgive you.

What I want you to know right here and now is that there is a way out, a way forward, a path opening up in the desert.

You might be miseria (in misery) but standing right in front of you is Misericordia (mercy).

 

Sibling Survivors

The following is a reflection by one of the siblings who attended  our recent weekend retreat. One note we would like to make knowing many siblings may read this is that God knew you too. While it is totally understandable to have these feelings that need to be worked through, your life was always in God's plan and His time is not our time. Your life is just as valuable in His eyes as that of your siblings and you were known by Him for all eternity, so, you would be here!

 After knowing about my aborted sibling since 1980, last weekend’s Entering Canaan retreat enabled me to know him by name.  I consider the retreat a gift from God who knew what I needed even before I asked.

  I have been a sibling survivor for over 70 years but only heard the term "Sibling survivor" about 3 years ago.  As a basically analytical type it came to me that given the statistic that 1 out of 3 women
has had an abortion there must be a veritable army of millions of us sibling survivors.  I wondered why more of us aren't identifying the problem and speaking out.

  The reason I came up with is in a word....." FEAR."  In my opinion There is only one good thing about the legalization of abortion which is that now we can talk about what it truly is...a terrible affront to nature and the dignity of women, bad for society and, (for me as a person of faith)  a terrible sin against God and neighbor.

  Jesus, the Good Shepherd, advises us through the Holy Scriptures to "Fear not, little flock, for it is the Father's good pleasure to give You the Kingdom."  Saint Pope John Paul II repeatedly urged us to "Be not afraid.

  I must say that I feel lucky to be alive because if my brother, (whom, as a result of last weekend) I now can call Peter Joseph, had been born, I probably wouldn't be here and neither would my children or grandchildren.

  In mercy I know that, if abortion were still illegal, I probably would not be aware of the cause of a lot of misery in my family because no one would be able to talk about this awful sin without possible legal consequences.

  It is my hope to someday walk humbly in a pro life march with my peers under the banner of "The Sibling Survivor Society, brothers and sisters of aborted children." Our official loyal membership will consist of only those who have personally truly forgiven all involved in the loss of our siblings causing deep hurt within our families.

We long for the day when abortion will be, if not illegal, at the very least morally unthinkable for the vast majority of human beings.  -K

 

Annunciation

Talk about abortion connectors! I have to admit ,this use to be one of the days I really hated
because it reminded me of my abortion. The last thing I wanted to hear about was Mary's "yes" to the Angel Gabriel when she was told she was with child.

It was a reminder of everything I was not. Here was someone, who in all probability, could be stoned to death because she was unmarried and with child, and yet, she trusted God enough to say yes to His plan for her.

Things have changed since those days. I love this day now. Although I cannot change the past, it is a great sign of surrender to God's plan in my life, and that  even if things don't look like they will be okay, if I truly trust Him, I will be okay.

I  have taken Mary as my mother and entrusted myself to her care knowing she knows more than any what it is like to loose a child and that she ALWAYS leads me to her Son.

Mary, help me to always know God's will for me and to have the strength and courage to carry it out. Lead me always to your Son who is Mercy Himself!

Forgiveness

 

Wise little girl who can teach all of us a lot about God's love and forgiveness!

(thx Ed)

No Mercy, No Justice

So often people who have had abortions feel alienated from the church because of those who condemn them.  Pope Francis' homily today speaks to the judgement of those who condemn.

"I only want to say one of the most beautiful words of the Gospel that moves me so much: 'Has no one condemned you?' – 'No, no one, Lord' – 'Neither do I condemn you.' Neither I do condemn you: one of the most beautiful words because it is full of mercy," he said.

Click here to read his entire homily from this morning. 

 

Woman Caught in Adultery

I love the gospel reading of the woman caught in adultery.  It is not a surprise since as post abortive people we all can relate to her. I am sure her feelings were very much the same as the ones we have experienced, feelings of guilt, shame, confusion, anxiety, and fear of condemnation. I am sure she felt like the worst sinner in the world.

But Jesus did not condemn her.  Instead we are told, he bent over and wrote on the ground with his finger. I often think of how He did this so that she would not feel ashamed or embarrassed. He did not want to increase her anxiety and fear but instead wanted to invite her to trust in His mercy.

Unlike Jesus, the people around her were condemning her. They had picked up their stones ready to put her to death, but Jesus, knowing the sinfulness of every person, changed the course of events. “Whichever one of you has committed no sin may throw the first stone at her.” A call for them to look at their own lives instead of judging hers, and one by one they left, aware of their own sinfulness… aware that each of us needs the mercy of God.

 

“Go, but do not sin again.” I know what that woman felt like. She experienced overwhelming gratitude for the forgiveness and mercy of God, but also a call to amend her life. A call to change her ways so that she does not sin again so she does not hurt others, and also herself. A challenge to grow in true love, the love of God. By His grace may we sin no more, and invite others to the same mercy he has shows to us.

************
Are you living in darkness and depression after an abortion?
Unable to get past the pain of your loss?
There is Hope.  There is Healing.  There is a way out of the darkness.
Email us at lumina@postabortionhelp.org
Call us at 1-877-586-4621 or 1-718-881-8008

Generous Hearts

“Blessed are they who have kept the word with a
generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance.”

I am not going to lie; it is not always easy doing post abortive work.  People are more drawn to activism or caring for the unborn, so the support is are not always there. I get it. Those of us who are post abortive are suffering because of our own sin, although the culpability may be in varying degrees. The unborn are innocents.

But, Christ came to call sinners. He came to call you and me. The desire of His heart was to reconcile those far from Him back to His heart. It was not easy for Him either. He too had to persevere in the face of many obstacles as He was "yielding a harvest" for His Father.

In this time of Lent, I especially embrace this work of bringing souls to Christ and I thank God for the gift of perseverance. I have been so very blessed in this work to see countless souls return to Christ. 

While God's mercy is always present in the church and world, we especially call out to the depths of His mercy through this time of remembrance of the Paschal Mysteries. The commemoration of the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, gives us hope in the world to come, where we will be united with Him and our children lost to abortion.

As we approach the Feast of Divine Mercy, may we always remember that our sin is like a drop of water in the ocean of the Divine Mercy of God.

************
Are you living in darkness and depression after an abortion?
Unable to get past the pain of your loss?
There is Hope.  There is Healing.  There is a way out of the darkness.
Email us at lumina@postabortionhelp.org
Call us at 1-877-586-4621 or 1-718-881-8008

 

Overcoming the World

Fri Lenten Weekday - Wis 2:1a, 12-22/Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

It is difficult to read today’s first reading and not think of the things going on in the world today. It seems Christians, especially Catholics, are persecuted more and more each day even within the faith, as evidenced by the teacher who was just suspended for objecting to gay marriage.

We are put to the test as many seek to taunt us, ridicule, and attack many of our beliefs. They do not understand our victory is in the Lord.

But that victory, like Christ's, may not come in this world, it comes in overcoming the world.

Let us continue to trust in the Lord no matter what is happening or how things look, knowing the battle has already been won.

For those seeking healing and reconciliation because of abortion, open your hearts to the tremendous mercy of God as He desires your healing and seeks to bring you His comfort and peace.

******
Are you living in darkness and depression after an abortion?
Unable to get past the pain of your loss?
There is Hope.  There is Healing.  There is a way out of the darkness.
Email us at lumina@postabortionhelp.org
Call us at 1-877-586-4621 or 1-718-881-8008