The number of participants in this year's March for Life is not important. The number of speeches given by politicians, religious leaders, and concerned citizens are not important. The March for Life is important because it asks each participant, each person who witnesses it to think about the sanctity of life, the beauty of life.
Being with a group of enthusiastic people praying and cheering against death, against abortion is inspiring and beautiful. Attending the rally and marching on the streets of Washington, DC should be a requirement for all Catholics. Seeing all the different people priests, nuns, seminarians, mothers, fathers, toddlers, babies in strollers, college students, high school students, middle school students is an uplifting experience. Hearing all the different sounds singing, chanting, cheering, laughing, talking, praying is an uplifting experience.
The March for Life provides a simple opportunity to bear witness to the beauty and mystery of our faith. For those who attend there is the possibility of doing the right thing, of doing the hard thing walking in the footsteps of Christ, believing in the value of all life, showing compassion and mercy to all.
Several people spoke about the culture of death that permeates the American society. Our culture revels in violence, real and imagined for movies and television. Death is no longer respected. Science has explained the mechanics of death. Abortion is just one sad symptom of our cultural death acceptance. All life needs to be valued, not merely our lives and those our loved ones. All life needs to be valued.
The March for Life offers hope to all those who participate. For the most part the speeches are hopeful, inspiring. There are a few dull speeches but the March for Life is not about speeches, it is about moving, it is about walking in large numbers, walking saying the rosary, walking holding hands in silence, walking saying the Lord's Prayer; it is about pushing a baby stroller, pushing a wheelchair; it is about people giving of their time to take a stand against an injustice of great proportion.
As long as abortion is legal we are all victimized by it, we are all prisoners of it, we are all touched by the deaths of the innocent unborn, and the consequences that affect their parents.
People from all across the country attend the March for Life. People from Alaska, Oregon, Nebraska, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Maine, New York, Florida were there. It is great seeing and hearing them and sharing this moment.
Many lessons can be learned during the March for Life. Many prayers can be offered. The March for Life always needs more participants. It also always needs donations.
Wonderful, amazing things can occur at the March for Life.
No comments:
Post a Comment