Friday, March 6, 2009

Obama to Sign Order for Embryonic Stem Cell Research

The raindrop does not want to think that it was the one single event that changed the puddle from becoming a flood.

When will the blood of unborn children cease to be shed, and who will take responsibility for the travesty that will finally be wrought on American soil when God's ears have been over-filled with the cries of the innocents?

Who will be the one to say that he (or she) was the one that changed the events that were a few court rulings into a massacre?

I'd cry, but the tears wouldn't end. Last Lent I spent time praying and fasting for the end to abortion and spent much of the time crying for the loss of the children: for the unknown siblings, sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, grandparents, etc.

Yet, on Monday March 9th, Obama will sign an order authorizing widespread provision of federal funds for embryonic stem cell research.

Sometimes I am forced to wonder. Many have prayed, many have fasted. Many have prayed and fasted, yet God stands by. But I know that He stands by our side and is waiting for His perfect moment. I just wish it wouldn't be at the cost of so many lost lives, loves, and souls.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Lent 2009

For years I've had one image of Lent, that of going out into the desert. To me the desert signifies letting go of things, of sacrifice, and ardent prayer. This is imagery not only given in readings such as this Sunday's (Mk 1:12-15) which briefly describes Christ being driven into the desert for fasting and resistance to temptation for 40 days. Or even Hosea, where the proverbial adulterous wife is hedged in, wooed in the desert and so forth.

However I was recently thinking that Lent should invite us to something closer to Christ: the scene between Him and St Simon helping Him take up the gloriously wretched Cross. Are we walking with Christ, close enough that we can be friends, or the bride as He is the Bridegroom? Can we claim to be His helpmate as Eve was to designed to be for Adam?