“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
(2 Chronicles 7:14)
Human beings, and especially males, tend to respond to a challenge or injustice by rolling up our sleeves and doing something. Unfortunately, our first response tends not to be prayer and fasting.
I must admit that in my early years as the Bishops’ pro-life director, I tended to subordinate prayer and fasting (at least interiorly) to more “concrete” activities such as education, public policy advocacy, and pastoral care efforts. It took me several years of pro-life work to discover the wisdom of God’s word in 2 Chronicles 7:14.
Sooner or later, any reasonably astute soldier in the battle against the culture of death learns that this battle is spiritual at its core. Therefore, any effort not rooted in prayer will be in vain.
This year’s Lenten season begins next Wednesday. By now, many Catholics may have at least given some thought to what type of sacrifice they will embrace during this penitential season. However, most probably haven’t thought about offering their prayer and fasting for a particular intention(s).
I humbly ask Catholics to include the pro-life cause as a recipient of your prayers and fasting. Some particular prayer intentions could include seeking God’s help for women who are at risk of having an abortion; for innocent children who are at risk of perishing; for men and women who carry the pain of a past abortion experience; for workers at Planned Parenthood facilities and abortion centers; for local, regional, and national leaders; for revival and renewal in our churches; and for repentance and healing throughout our nation.
These prayer intentions are suggested to participants of the 40 Days for Life campaign. According to its organizers, the mission of 40 Days for Life is “to bring together the body of Christ in a spirit of unity during a focused 40 day campaign of prayer, fasting, and peaceful activism, with the purpose of repentance, to seek God’s favor to turn hearts and minds from a culture of death to a culture of life, thus bringing an end to abortion.”
As it’s mission states, part of the 40 Days for Life campaign involves “peaceful activism” that involves an around the clock presence of participants spending one hour praying outside an abortion mill. Organizers in Lincoln and Omaha are asking for help in filling these hours outside the three abortion mills (one in Lincoln, one in Omaha and one in Bellevue).
Interested participants can sign up for an hour online at www.40daysforlife.com (scroll down to Nebraska) or by calling 402-399-0299 for Omaha and Bellevue locations and 402-327-9015 for the Lincoln location.
The 40 Days for Life organizers point out that if you cannot pray outside one of the abortion mills then “pray at church, pray at work, pray in the car or pray at home… People of faith are also invited to fast throughout 40 Days for Life. Christ said there are demons that can only be driven out by prayer and fasting.
“A fast is not a Christian diet; it is a powerful means of drawing closer to God by blocking out distractions. Fast from certain foods. Fast from television. Fast from apathy and indifference. Fast from whatever it is that separates you from God.”
“We believe that when God’s people fast with a broken, repentant and contrite spirit, our heavenly Father will hear from heaven and heal our lives, our churches, our communities, our nation, and our world.” To that I say Amen!
