Preaching on abortion, Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life

Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, reflects on the Sunday readings for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God and their message about abortion.

For more information about what the Sunday readings, and the whole Bible, say about abortion, and for resources for your Church, see https://www.ProLifePreaching.org. You can order there the book “Proclaiming the Message of Life,” which contains these reflections for all the Sunday readings in the lectionary.

Nm 6:22-27
Gal 4:4-7
Lk 2:16-21

The calendar year starts with reflections on Mary’s greatest title, “Mother of God,” and how her motherhood gives us courage and hope to start anew. Life and hope are intimately related. The more we hope, the more willing we are to welcome life. Abortion is not only a sin against life, but a sin against hope. Some wonder how they can “bring a child into this world,” as though the world is so evil and dangerous a place that it is better if we aren’t born. Christ and Mary lead the way for every mother and child, for every family, as we move forward from one New Year into another.

The gospel tells us that on the first Christmas, when the shepherds arrived in Bethlehem and saw the baby in the manger, they understood what had been told to them by the angels. Why was it at that moment that they understood the message? Perhaps it is because a baby is so approachable. After all, the angels had announced that the Savior was born for all people. Nobody, no matter how poor or lowly, should be afraid to approach him. And how can God become more approachable than by becoming a little baby? God continues to reveal himself in the tiny babies yet in the womb. He invites us to see and love him in them. Yet some continue to be afraid of these babies, so afraid that they despair and are tempted to kill them. May the coming of our God as a little baby inspire a deeper respect and protection for the unborn.