Return to the Lord of Life

By Bishop Paul S. Loverde
Special to the HERALD
(From the issue of 7/6/06)

This homily was given by Bishop Paul S. Loverde on the Solemnity of the Birth of St. John the Baptist, at the monthly Respect Life Mass at All Saints Church in Manassas on June 24.

Today’s liturgy projects before us the image of St. John the Baptist. Yes, as we gather to celebrate the Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, our focus is immediately placed on him. Why did God choose him to be the precursor of Christ, that is, the one who would go before the Lord to prepare a way for Him? The Opening Prayer of Collect we prayed moments ago gives us an answer. St. John the Baptist “challenges us to repentance and points the way to Christ the Lord,” so that we may “turn from out sins and receive the life of the Gospel.”
Without a doubt, St. John the Baptist called people to repentance, that is, to turn away from their sinfulness and to turn back to the Lord, the One Saviour of the world. Through the witness of his life and preaching, he pointed to Christ the Lord. Insistently and consistently, he led people to Jesus, Who reveals His boundless love and mercy through the image of His Sacred Heart.
Where then do we experience this saving love and mercy? Where do we, in actuality, turn away from sin and turn back to the Lord? We do this precisely through the Sacrament of Penance, the Sacrament where we experience Divine Mercy in all its fullness. The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us: “Sin is before all else an offense against God, a rupture of communion with him. At the same time it damages communion with the Church. For this reason conversion entails both God’s forgiveness and reconciliation with the Church, which are expressed and accomplished liturgically by the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation” (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1440).
Today, we have gathered for our monthly Respect Life Mass. Today, as we pray fervently and without ceasing for the elimination of abortion and the other sins against life, we are specifically praying for repentance and healing for post-abortive mothers and fathers. Most women who approach an abortion clinic for an abortion do so with fear and reluctance. Often, they feel alone and trapped. You and I must be the messengers of welcome, hope, repentance and healing. We must announce to them in ways that are clear the good news of repentance, welcome and hope. The Lord Jesus loves each of them, not what they did. He calls them back home to experience His merciful forgiveness and His healing love, so that they too can come to join us in our respect life apostolate.
Our late Holy Father Pope John Paul II described this aspect of our pro-life mission in these words written in his encyclical The Gospel of Life: “The Church is aware of the many factors which have influenced your decision, and she does not doubt that in many cases it was a painful and even shattering decision. The wound in your heart may not yet have healed. Certainly what happened was and remains terribly wrong. But do not give in to discouragement and do not lose hope. Try rather to understand what happened and face it honestly. It you have not already done so, give yourselves over with humility and trust to repentance. The Father of mercies is ready to give you his peace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. You will come to understand that nothing is definitively lost and you will also be able to ask forgiveness from your child, who is now living in the Lord. With the friendly and expert help and advice of other people, and as a result of your own painful experience, you can be among the most eloquent defenders of everyone’s right to life. Through your commitment to life, whether by accepting the birth of other children or by welcoming and caring for those most in need of someone to be close to them, you will become promoters of a new way of looking at human life” (EV No. 99).
If we are truly pro-life people, then our attitude must also be that of Christ the Lord, who hated the sin, but loved the sinner. Yes, without any doubt, abortion is an evil and a grave sin, yet forgiveness and healing are being lavishly offered to post-abortive mothers and fathers, provided that they are truly sorry and desire to amend their ways. All they need to do is to turn back to the Lord and to His Church, specifically through the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. Competent counseling and spiritual direction can also be helpful and indeed necessary. Forgiveness and healing can lead to a new involvement in the church’s mission to proclaim the Gospel of Life.
As you know, one of our diocesan programs of outreach is Project Rachel. Last year alone, the staff of Project Rachel assisted over two-hundred and fifty women and men. This diocesan office is ready to offer assistance through referrals to priests and counselors, healing services and retreats and other ways that are realistic and helpful. If you know someone who has had an abortion or cooperated in one, please let them know that they are not alone. We are more than ready and willing to lead them to Christ’s Sacred Heart, where they will experience His boundless mercy and love and find the way to healing and a new life.
Yes, St. John the Baptist points to Christ the Lord and urges us to follow Him in the way of repentance and renewal. Well do we echo the prayer we offered at the beginning: “Open our ears to his message [of repentance] and free our hearts to turn from our sins and receive the life of the Gospel”—and we add: “to witness daily to the Gospel of Life.” Amen.

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