What would it be like for God to send a prophet among us? How would we of today’s society respond? Would it be like in the days of the prophet Zechariah, who pointed out the people’s unfaithfulness, and was stoned in the porch of the Temple (2 Chron 24:20-22)? Or would it be like in the times of Jonah, reluctant as he was to speak to the Ninevites, was able to change the hearts of the people, from the least to the greatest (Jonah 3)?
The Sacred Scriptures teach us, the Lord does send His prophets:
The Lord said to me, ‘…I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kin, and will put my words into his mouth; he shall tell them all that I command him. Whoever will not listen to my words which he speaks in my name, I myself will make him answer for it…’ (Deuteronomy 18:18)
I hope, that when God does send His prophet, it will be another Jonah experience.
After much reluctance – and running away from his call – Jonah went to Nineveh, and for three days walked through the city proclaiming to the people that God will destroy them because they have not been obedient to God and his ways: “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed!”
Happily for the people of Nineveh, the king heard the warning and headed it, and instructed all the people to do the same by proclaiming a fast, “from the least to the greatest”. The city of Nineveh listened to the words of the Prophet, changed their lives, and God did not carry out their destruction, for “God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way”.
In the current 40 Days for Life campaign, there is the telling of story after story how God is changing hearts because of those who are willing to silently pray for women going into abortion clinics, for the people working inside, and for mercy. In a way, they are preaching by their actions the prophetic message of God’s love. These silent prayer warriors are proclaiming a prophetic message by standing up for what they believe in. It reminds me of the Prophet Ezekiel who was told to dig a hole in the wall and go through it as though he were going into exile. After the fact the Lord instructed him, “did they not ask you what you are doing? Tell them…” (Ezekiel 12:9-10).
Our prayer warriors standing for life in front of abortion clinics across the nation are being that very prophetic witness. And many hearts are being opened to the truth through their silent presence. To date in this 40 Days campaign, 289 babies have been saved from death. And, it isn’t only saving little babies; it is helping mothers who have done the unthinkable, offering loving counsel and forgiveness.
Let us pray with the participants of the 40 Days for life campaign, asking our friends and families to do the same. And, if you can, volunteer as a prayer warrior on the sidewalks of the abortion clinic near you. You never know how God is going to use you to save a life.
Are We a New Nineveh?
In January 2012, on the 39th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo spoke to many young people gathered National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for Mass. In his Homily he implied, we too are walking through Nineveh:
“Jonah had at first run from his call and his mission and is not bubbling with joy when it meets success as the Lord’s ways are sometimes, maybe many times, not his and not ours. Perhaps that is why we are more like Jonah than we would care to admit, especially to those hostile to us. If we are to be critical of Jonah, we must see him as our mirror. (By the way, I wonder how many days it would take to go through Washington, D.C.?)…”
May the Lord of Life hear our prayers and come to the aide of the unborn who are in danger of having their lives ended. And may He continue to change hearts and reclaiming a culture of life.
Saint Gianna Beretta Molla, Patron of the Unborn, Pray for us.
Blessed Margaret of Castello, Patron of the Unwanted, Pray for us.
