My Three Sons

Learning to be pro-life by being prolific

01/22/2020

Mark 3:1-6 Jesus entered the synagogue. There was a man there who had a withered hand. They watched Jesus closely to see if he would cure him on the sabbath so that they might accuse him. He said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up here before us.” Then he said to the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” But they remained silent. Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him to death.

Do you know that I have three children? Oh no! What a terrible scandal! Relax. I am talking about the three books I’ve written called, “Oh, for the Love of God,” “Oh, for Heaven’s Sake,” and “Oh, Lord, Have Mercy.” Maybe all natural mothers will disagree, but it felt a lot like giving birth to a baby every time one of those books was published. For example, it took about nine months of pregnancy and gestation before each book saw the light of day. I agonized and prayed about each one’s name. I have pictures of each book hanging proudly in my office. And now each one has a life of its own, as people read and discuss them, even though their genes came from me. My life often feels like the old television show called “My Three Sons” starring Fred MacMurry, a widower raising three boys.

I mention giving birth to books today because the United States Catholic bishops have designated January 22 every year as “A Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children.” In other words, today all Catholics are called to promote pro-life, especially the precious life in the womb. Why did they choose today? It was on January 22, 1973 that the United States Supreme Court, in the now infamous decision Roe vs. Wade, legalized abortion in all fifty states. It was a milestone in our history for many reasons, but I believe it marked the moment when we went from being a civilized to an uncivilized society. Why? We denied an entire class of people – unborn babies – of their humanity and said it would be okay to kill them. Put simply, abortion is worse than slavery. I’m sorry, I know I am not putting this point very gently, but it is impossible to make abortion antiseptic, clean and pretty. So, today we pray for the “legal protection” of unborn children and especially for the overturning of Roe vs. Wade, and a return to being again a civilized society that believes babies are people, too, who enjoy the full protection of the law.

There are, however, many ways to be pro-life, and one way is to be “prolific.” Did you know that the two words “pro-life” and “prolific” come from the same root? Essentially, they both mean being fruitful, whether it’s by giving birth to babies, or by giving birth to books. In other words, I am convinced that the best defense is a good offense. Of course, I am not advocating abandoning defensive strategies to end abortion. When I was in the seminary, a group of us would gather every Saturday to pray the rosary at a local abortion clinic. Such strategies are good and effective. Those who feel called to do so, should not hesitate to do so-called “side-walk counseling.”

But I also invite you to be pro-life by being prolific with your gifts and talents with which God has blessed you. Maybe you are able to have multiple children, or as a friend of mine likes to say, she is a “fertile myrtle.” If her husband just walks by and brushes her arm, she gets pregnant. Those of us called to celibacy, however, can also be pro-life by being prolific by giving birth to books, or building a vibrant bible study group, or creating an engaging youth ministry program, or giving generously to charity and underwriting pro-life programs and causes. Basically, there are a billion different ways to build the “culture of life and civilization of love” as Pope St. John Paul II so beautifully put it.

Today, don’t just think of defensive strategies to promote the cause of life, but also offensive ones. Ask God to help you discover your gifts and talents, and then go be prolific with them. St. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 12:7, “To each the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” We manifest the Holy Spirit in our actions when we are prolific with our gifts and talents, and that is the best way to be pro-life. In the end the pro-life side will win. Why? Well, because we will be the side having more babies.

Praised be Jesus Christ!