Gospel Reflections for January 17 2016
Keep the party going!
Perhaps Jesus actually said that at the wedding reception in today’s Gospel. He knew the great embarrassment a couple would feel if they ran out of wine. The party would be over! Jesus knew that good wine would keep everyone celebrating love and married life.
I hope that couple lived a long and happy life, but we just don’t know. In fact, none of us knows the number of our days. Some are fortunate to have advanced notice from doctors so they can prepare for it well, while others might end their days unexpectedly. The expectation of our faith is that we live our life as fully as possible no matter how many days we have. We certainly expect that our end is natural, and never at the hands of another.
Our deepest Catholic moral belief is that every person is loved by God from every moment before birth to our natural death. It is always His will that we should live a full and happy life, whether short or long.
I remember a couple that I married years ago asked me to bless their new home and meet their kids. While there I noticed a beautiful new room set up for a baby. They had a child coming much later but a room already prepared now. Long before this child was born it was already deeply loved …just as God loves us …long before we are born.
God designed us with a natural instinct to care for innocent children before they are even born, not as an imposition by any religion but a natural human trait that actually led to our evolutionary success.
That is why few women actually ever really wants an abortion, but at times under severe circumstances might feel there is no other choice. Yet that is also why so many women who have had abortions now deeply recognize that every life, including their own, is from God. Their beautiful witness of a change of heart has had a remarkable impact on our country.
January is Right to Life Month. We remember all those children whose lives ended unnaturally, mothers who anguished at that time, as well as those mothers and fathers who have helped change our country into a Pro-Life nation. More than half of all Americans now call themselves Pro-Life. Because of their witness, more young lives will continue!
As Jesus might have said at that wedding in Cana, “Let the celebration of life and love continue!”
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Fr. Dave,
I look forward to your Gospel reflections every week. You have a great way with words, I always get the message. The people in your Church are very fortunate, as we don’t always get the message depending on the Friar praying the mass.
I am so thankful for your message. I enjoy writing these articles, and I am glad you find them helpful!
Thank you for that wonderful Gospel reflection Fr. Dave. God Bless your ministry and may Mary, the Mother of God and our Mother protect and guide you always under Her Mantle +
I rely on the intersession of Mary every day!
Amen. At “That Man is You!” this morning the presenter showed a comparison between the decline of life in the world today due to abortions and the historic decline of life due to the Black Plague. The loss of life is comparable, but, he said, the recovery from our decline will take longer than the world’s recovery from the Black Plague. This is because the old and feeble people died from the Black Plague, leaving young and fertile members to recover the population. But abortion is killing the persons who have the most prospect for recovery. The average age of the population is growing, and the prospects for world survival are bleak.
One might say that abortion is the remedy for failed birth control. That is why the Church warns that unnatural birth control is also an evil. It seems that people who say that the Church is old fashioned about birth control don’t understand the demographics of our world.
It is interesting that China, of all places, has recently rescinded their “One Child” policy, as they recognize the demographic disaster that policy represents. Europe has finally come around to the same idea as they see the dire effects of a smaller population on their ability to care for the older population. Maybe governments will pay more attention to the wisdom of God that has been before them all these years!
It is indeed beautiful to watch our nation changing its attitudes toward the unborn. I hope that we can impact respect for life internationally as well.
China and Europe have certainly changed their view recently for seeking more births, but only for demographic and social security reasons. However, it is a step in the right direction. God’s logic always wins out in the end!
Dear Fr. Dave,
I also agree that we hope and pray that we can impact respect for life internationally as well as our nation changing its attitudes toward the unborn.
We are on the winning side!
The first reading said it well. “For Zions sake I shall not be quiet.” I was talking to a lady about abortion and her comment was that don’t I think that having too many kids and mentioned Catholics have 11 kids. Ridiculous huh? Without getting spiritual because she would not hear of it, I suggested that when she is ready to retire and collect social security with all the abortions who will put it in when we have killed all the babies and there is not future. Asked her if she realized we have killed off many potential healers of cancer and new inventions.
It was interesting that after the miracle of the win then the Apostle believed in Him. It must have really been. It must have been a real act of God to have them follow Him in the first place. + I pray for an awakening of our people to stand firm against these abortions and not worry about what people will say but trust in what God says and lean on Him and speak openly and vote accordingly.
I think that your response to this person was excellent! People often do not think through the consequences of their decisions, and widespread abortion is a death knell for any society.
Love your comment Father Dave that Jesus might have said, “Let the celebration of love and life continue!!! The miracle of changing the water into wine at Cana so that the couple and the guests would be beautifully served was wonderful!! Jesus’ beginning of sharing love with others and I love that he listened to His beautiful mother!!!!Being Italian I always had wonderful wine at home!!! My father would say “It is Christmas every day at our home for we would enjoy fabulous Italian food and delicious wine!!! and of course lots of LOVE!!!It is soooooooooo beautiful to celebrate love and life always!!! In marriage bringing the gift of life into the world is such a beautiful miracle!!! We must defend and protect the miracle of life always and help others to see the intrinsic beauty and value of every human life!!! To live, to love, to help others, to do good in the world is a precious gift!!!!Dick and I love our our gift of life, our Faith, our family, our friends and YOU!!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Franca and Dick
Our Lord is always about the celebration of life, and Our Lord, more than anyone else, knows just how best to do it!
Thank you for speaking up in defense of life in the womb as we approach the anniversary of Roe V. Wade. I wish more priests would do the same. May God bless all our beautiful preborn babies and their parents, whatever their circumstances, fears and anxieties. And may He continue to call more and more post-abortive women to share their stories and conversions. They are amazing examples of courage and can do so much to influence the conversation in our country, as you pointed out. In this year of mercy, it is so important to reach out with forgiveness.
Well said! I believe that this Year of Mercy will invite so many more women and men to come forward both to repent of past sins and rejoice in the chance to move forward with a renewed desire to affirm all life from conception to natural death. Mercy creates an abundance of love!
Very powerful message Fr Dave, thank you for sharing!
I learned from my parents to be obedient and do whatever they say even if it is difficult. Just like what Mama Mary said, “Do whatever He tells you.” As the years gone by I learned more and I am very thankful to God for showing me the way. This Gospel is not just the miracle of the water being transformed into wine, I learned that God is establishing not only a relationship with each one of us but a covenant, with Jesus being the Bridegroom Messiah and we are the bride, that’s ho much Jesus love all of us. When He said, “my hour has not come,” He is showing us the way to the cross and He will be with us always and will die for us..
Thank you Lord for guiding me my parents all though the years.and as I continue my journey I will always follow you Jesus!.
What a beautiful message! Thanks for sharing that with us. As you say, the Cana miracle is our covenant with Jesus as well. It will be a happy union!
Dear Father Dave,
I just celebrated another birthday and am very grateful for the gift of life!! I have experienced so many wonderful moments. I am very blessed to have had three children. Babies are a gift from God and have meaning from the time of conception. Abortion should not be an option when there are so many loving couples who want to adopt a child.
Well said!
A wonderful reflection of the value of human life and at the same time a gentle reminder of the frightening ability we have to ‘party on’ instead of noticing the terrible holocaust of unborn children happening in the USA and around the world. All children are blessings and we all should continue praying and working to end the great sin or abortion while supporting poor parents, young parents, and praying for those who are pro-choice to realize what a wonderful blessing a child is, even if you are unprepared for the event. We who are of The Church and wedded to Christ need to remember to include pro-choice individuals in our prayers that their hearts will be changed and they will learn to celebrate life and the life of the unborn instead of seeing it as an inconvenience to be rid of.
Thank you so much for your message! I agree. We love both those who are not born yet, and their mothers and fathers as well. I affirm as well that we include in our prayers those who do not see life as we do. Even though we disagree, they are still our brothers and sisters in the Lord.
We celebrate life in all it’s fullness, when we see the inconceivable joy at the birth
of a newborn, the reminder of God’s glory in a beautiful sunset and the comforting words of
family and friends.
Our joy is in celebrating together what the Lord has given us as we acknowledge His
goodness and love in our everyday encounters.
Celebrate life and love forevermore!
Yes, well said!
Father Dave, thank you for writing this article and speaking out about abortion. It seems we often don’t hear enough from the pulpit about this grave issue. It is unfathomable to me how such a large percentage of Catholics can identify themselves as “Pro-Choice.” Shocking and heartbreaking. Praying that God will bring an end to this scourge of our time. God bless you.
Yes, we need more people, Catholics especially, to recognize the importance of defending life. Fortunately, the tide is on our side, but we still have to keep up the prayers and actions for defending life at every stage.