as though everything depends on God; work as though
everything depends on you." You have done just that. We've seen faithful
volunteers in 258 cities pray, fast, do community
outreach and hold peaceful vigils in front of 258
of the most hopeless places in our world. Your prayers have brought one thing in particular to
the public right-of-way ... HOPE. Hope is what the abortion industry is afraid of. Hope
is what makes women scheduled to have abortions turn
around. Hope is what leads abortion workers out of
that industry. Hope is what transforms our world. It is amazing what can happen when you go to the
sidewalks and let the love of Christ be present in
places that thrive on hopelessness. This could not be done without your faith, courage
and selflessness. Let me be the first to say thank you for your efforts
these past 40 days. Your prayers sent a clear message.
Here's a great example from this campaign.
------------------------------------------------------
AUBURN HILLS, MICHIGAN
------------------------------------------------------ When Seth Peters heard that Planned Parenthood was
planning a 17,000 square foot abortion center in
Auburn Hills, "minutes away from my parents' house,
where I had been lovingly raised and where I still
call home, I was heartbroken and angry." He signed up to bring a 40 Days for Life vigil to the
proposed location -- joining other community voices
speaking out against the abortion chain’s plans. He
received support from many local sources. Adjacent property owners had previously filed suit,
noting that deed restrictions would not permit an
abortion facility there. Planned Parenthood may be
tied up in court -- but not about to give up. "Planned Parenthood is hungry for this site," Seth
said, noting that it sits near a low-income
neighborhood, a college campus and a wealthy suburb
-- all prime targets for abortion. He pushed ahead with vigil plans, even though a number
of people didn't see the need for prayer at a place
where abortions are not currently taking place. "That
is unfortunate," he said, "because it's a bit like
waiting until the hurricane hits before you board up
your windows." Planned Parenthood got tired of waiting. They bought
an empty medical building in nearby Ferndale and plan
to open an office there tomorrow. That facility will
not offer abortions, but will refer women to other
locations that do. "You can see how effective prayerful vigilance has
been thus far in keeping Planned Parenthood at bay
in Auburn Hills," Seth said. "The fact that they have
shifted to Ferndale can be considered a victory." At the very least, he said, "this campaign was about
planting seeds and praying that abortion will end at
this Auburn Hills location before it ever has a chance
to begin." Clearly, there’s a lot of work to be done ... and a lot
of praying to be done. But I know that with God's help,
we are witnessing the beginning of the end of abortion.
Today's devotional is from Fr. Frank Pavone, national
director of Priests for Life.
------------------------------------------------------
DAY 40 INTENTION
------------------------------------------------------ Let us keep our eyes fixed on the New Jerusalem, where
death will be no more.
------------------------------------------------------
SCRIPTURE
------------------------------------------------------ "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will
be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for
the old order of things has passed away." He who was
seated on the throne said, "I am making everything
new!" -- Revelation 21:4-5
------------------------------------------------------
REFLECTION by Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life
------------------------------------------------------ Every activity we undertake in defense of the sanctity
of life is prophetic, inasmuch as it points to the day
when "death will be no more." Every victory we have when an act of abortion is
prevented is prophetic of that day when death itself
will be definitively conquered. Every triumph of grace in this world, whereby someone
is brought to see the value of life and given the
strength to welcome it, is a breaking into our history
of that definitive future in which the old order of
things will have passed, and all things will be made
new. As pro-life warriors, we must keep our eyes fixed on
heaven, and our hearts secure in the hope that the day
is coming when all evil will be conquered. It is the future that shapes the present; it is
victory that informs the battle; it is the destination
that determines the journey. Daily, we are called to reflect on heaven. When we weep, we are to think of the day when every
tear will be wiped away. When we face the destructive power of death, we are to
think of the day when death is swallowed up in
victory. When we labor against abortion, we are to think of the
day when we will have the rest and peace of the final
triumph of life. Heaven is as real as earth, and its joys will be as
real as our present sorrows.
------------------------------------------------------
PRAYER
------------------------------------------------------ Father, you are the God of hope. Your word fills us
with the vision of the world to come, when every tear
will be wiped away, and death will be no more. Father, how we need that hope, how we are strengthened
by that vision! Keep our hearts focused on heaven, and
diligent in the labors of earth. As we struggle against the culture of death, root our
souls in the assurance of victory. We pray through
Christ our Lord, Amen.
------------------------------------------------------
PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
------------------------------------------------------ To download today's devotional as a formatted,
printable PDF to share with friends: http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2012day40print.pdf
------------------------------------------------------ Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you have
done to make this monumental campaign such an amazing
success. You inspire me, Deacon! Yours for Life, Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
PS: Any final thoughts to share about this 40 Days
for Life campaign? Please leave a note on today's
blog posting at: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3137
40 Days for Life 10908 Courthouse Road
Suite 102229
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22408
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