TO HAVE

A RIGHT TO LIFE 

ATTITUDE

[The following is a reflection for our St. Mary's High School Right to Life Mass - before we headed on buses to Washington D.C. The readings were the readings of the day - January 23, 2012 - 3rd Monday in Ordinary Time.]

What does it mean to have a right to life attitude?

It means to pinch oneself every once and a while - and realize I’m here in this place in this time - enjoying the gift of breath and life - on sunny days, grey days, high energy days and slowly moving - I’m dead tired days.

What does it mean to have a right to life attitude?

It means to realize I am made in the image and likeness of God - and this means to be a creator - and a lover - a friend - and a servant.

What does it mean to have a right to life attitude?

It means the last sentence in today’s First Reading fits each of us more and more - by the grace of God - and because we buy the grace of God: “David grew steadily more powerful for the Lord of Hosts was with him.”

What does it mean to have a right to life attitude?

It means that the Psalm Response for today’s liturgy is part of our outlook and our inner look, “My faithfulness and mercy shall be with him or her” - because we’re trying to walk hand in Hand with the Lord.

What does it mean to have a right to life attitude?

It means that the words in today’s gospel hits us and we’re all working not to become a house divided - but to become more and more a house on a strong foundation - with the Lord in the center of our life and home.”

What does it mean to have a right to life attitude?

It means that the words of the Mass, “This is my body …. this is my blood - I’m giving my life for you” is our way of seeing and doing life as well.

What does it mean to have a right to life attitude?

It means that I notice a spider and a paper bug or mite and a fly and an ant crawling on the sidewalk or wall - and to realize I started small - egg and seed - and look at me now.

What does it mean to have a right to life attitude?

It means I give up my time for others. A lady I know got on a plane this morning at BWI and is on her way to Jamaica right now to clean teeth this whole week in a small alcove inside a Catholic Church - that serves as a dental clinic all year long - and the alcoves of that church - with their statues - and now care for living people all year long - serving the folks on the area - and this dental hygienist does this in Cumberland, Maryland area one week a year as well - and one week in her parish as well. That’s 3 weeks of extra help - besides here regular life.

What does it mean to have a right to life attitude?

It means to wince yesterday when reading the book review in the Washington Post of a biography of Heinrich Himmler - who was in on the killing of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions of people - in the 1930’s and the first part of the 1940’s - till he killed himself by taking a pill of cyanide poison which the Nazi high command had on hand in case they were caught.

What does it mean to have a right to life attitude?

It means to be against and to speak up when one sees bullying - picking on others with verbal attacks - making fun of others - and the picking on and funny comments are not cute verbal fun between friends - but it’s nasty comments to hurt another - in order to feel better or bigger about oneself - at the expense of another.

What does it mean to have a right to life attitude?

It means to be against abortion - to cry because a future kid, a future singer, dancer, student, friend, scientist, mom, dad, has been destroyed - but to have a deep love and concern for the person who has been in on the abortion - because we’re dealing with human life here.

What does it mean to have a right to life attitude?

It means to live life to the full - in the service of others - discovering and developing one’s talents - working with others to make each other’s day - and to make the world better each day by my presence in it.

What does it mean to have a right to life attitude?

It means to enjoy the gift of life - to be grateful to God and one’s mom and dad for the gift of life - and be grateful for all the people in one’s life - known and unknown - realizing we all need each other - from the truck driver to the truck maker - from the pipe and platform welder to the rig operator in the Gulf of Mexico - and on and on and on - in all the different the streets and avenues, paths and roads of life.

What does it mean to have a right to life attitude?

It means to listen to the person next to me - not interrupting them - trying to hear what they have to say - what they are excited at - or angry at - not answering one’s cell phone when another is talking with me face to face.

What does it mean to have a right to life attitude?

It means taking time to see as Jesus said - the birds of the air and the flowers of the field - buying bird feeders at Home Depot - and clearing out dumps to plant trees and flowers.

What does it mean to have a right to life attitude?

It means to be against Capital Punishment - to hope that murderers and criminals can get rehabilitated - or if someone is dangerous - that they are put in a safe place so they won’t hurt others.

What does it mean to have a right to life attitude?

It means to take the time to play with younger brothers and sisters - to thank one’s parents for the food they buy for us - appreciating and thanking them for their work - knowing the time it takes to make a pay check, to shop, to prepare meals, to keep a house and cars in good maintenance.

What does it mean to have a right to life attitude?

It means to take time with older folks - especially those who find it difficult to get out - or those who need home care - or assisted living or nursing home care.

What does it mean to have a right to life attitude?
It means to laugh and to sing and have fun - and to run - to play and to give others a chance to participate - whether it’s tag football - or Monopoly or chess or Boggle or charades or Wii.

What does it mean to have a right to life attitude?

It means to learn others languages - like Espanol - or Creole - a language that Father Joe learned and loved - during his 17 years of work as a Redemptorist in St. Lucia and Dominica.

What does it mean to have a right to life attitude?

It means to learn the nuances, the inner understandings, the hopes, the dreams, of our mom and dad, brothers and sisters, teachers, friends, by taking time while driving or being with them - to get their take on life and what’s happening in our family and in our circles.

What does it mean to have a right to life attitude?

It means having a concern for the water and the look and feel of creation - as well as the sidewalks and parking lots - not dumping on them - not marring another’s walls with graffiti - leaving the bathroom stall we use in the highway rest area or the Burger King Bathroom cleaner than when we walked into it.

What does it mean to have a right to life attitude?

It means respect for all peoples - all religions - all ways of life - even when we disagree with aspects of other’s take on life.

What does it mean to have a right to life attitude?

It means noticing and affirming other’s positive and good stuff and not just pointing out their mistakes and miscues.

What does it mean to have a right to life attitude?

It means to be thankful, to be Eucharist, at this moment, in this place, right now. Amen.