A GRAIN OF WHEAT

The setting: A twelfth grade class in the year 2835.

Fr. Williams: Alright class, today we are going to learn about the ancient civilization of America.

Johnny: Oh, I’ve read about them! They were the most advanced civilization in the world for a while!

Fr. Williams: Well, that’s true, but they also had a dark side.

Johnny: What do you mean?

Fr. Williams: Well, did you know that if you were born 830 years ago in America that your mother could have killed you in her womb just because she didn’t want a baby? And it was perfectly legal.

Johnny: That’s barbaric! Did they realize that it is a big sin to kill another person? Especially an innocent baby? How could they just blantanly break the laws of God?

Fr. Williams: Well Johnny, back then not everyone believed in God. As sick as it sounds, some of these people thought that it was their right to kill their child. The Church tried to talk some sense into these people but it did little good. Countless lives were lost because of the arrogance of those who supported abortion.

Johnny: I can’t understand someone not believing in God, but even if they didn’t, how could they kill a baby?

Fr. Williams: Well, the first thing they did was dehumanize the child. It is a little easier to “terminate a fetus” rather than “kill a baby”. The next thing they did was convince women that since the child is growing inside of them, then they have supreme control over the life of the “fetus”. After an incredible amount of propaganda, many women began to believe this.

Johnny: Well, I’m thankful to God that I did not live back then. I couldn’t live in a society where people place themselves above God.

Fr. Williams: I agree. Well class, that is all for today. We will continue this discussion tomorrow. Let us pray for all those children who were killed so long ago:

Almighty God, our Father,
you who have given us life
and intended us to have it forever,
grant us your blessings.
Enlighten our minds to an awareness
and to a renewed conviction
that all human life is sacred
because it is created
in your image and likeness.
Help us to teach by word
and the example of our lives
that life occupies the first place,
that human life is precious
because it is the gift of God
whose love is infinite.
Give us the strength to defend human life
against every influence
or action that threatens or weakens it,
as well as the strength
to make every life more human
in all its aspects.

Give us the grace…
When the sacredness of life
before birth is attacked,
to stand up and proclaim
that no one ever has the authority
to destroy unborn life.

When a child is described as a burden
or is looked upon only as a means
to satisfy an emotional need,
to stand up
and insist that every child is a unique
and unrepeatable gift of God,
a gift of God
with a right to a loving
and united family.

When the institution of marriage
is abandoned to human selfishness
or reduced to a temporary conditional arrangement
that can easily be terminated,
to stand up and affirm
the indissolubility of the marriage bond.

When the value of the family is threatened
because of social and economic pressure,
to stand up and reaffirm
that the family is necessary
not only for the private good of every person,
but also for the common good of every society,
nation and state.

When freedom is used to dominate the weak,
to squander natural resources and energy,
to deny basic necessities to people,
to stand up and affirm
the demands of justice and social love.

Almighty Father,
give us courage to proclaim the supreme dignity
of all human life and to demand
that society itself give its protection.
We ask this in your name,
through the redemptive act
of your Son and in the Holy Spirit.

Amen.