08 Feb A Mother’s Demand (Mark 6:24) By Rosemary Bernth
Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB). Leaders.Guest Authors.
“She went out and said to her mother,’What shall I ask for?’ Her mother replied, ‘The head of John the Baptist.'”~Mark 6:24 (full readings)
Rosemary’s Reflections: Whenever I hear this story, I always wonder what was that mother thinking. How does the head of a prophet, meaning death, improve her daughter’s life? Why wouldn’t the mother have asked for something her daughter could actually use, like clothes, food, or money? This Gospel scene seems to echo into present day, with how young women are pressured into abortions. Sadly some are asking for this gruesome wish on behalf of their parents. Our own president is one of them–“I’ve got two daughters, nine years old and six years old. I am going to teach them first of all about values and morals. But if they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.” How does the death of an innocent life bring about a better one for his children? Instead of these parents sending their children to Planned Parenthood’s chopping block, they should be seeking pregnancy resource centers like the Alpha Center. These places actually give the support these young girls need to choose Life, through adoption or raising their children themselves. If parents want to teach morals and values, they must be examples for them to follow.
* Rosemary Bernth (LIFE Runner) was a journalist for the Diocese of Sioux City’s newspaper and is now a writing/travel graduate student at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA.
Faith Challenge: Parenthood is not an easy vocation, yet it is a rewarding experience. Do something today as a family, whether it’s eating lunch together, reading a story before bed, or a simple phone call to your children/parents. A family that prays and plays together, stays together.
Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, Priests for Life, Vatican, Project Rachel.
Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion. LIFE Runners Creed. Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
Feast Day: St. Josephine Bakhita.
Faith Quote: “You don’t really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around – and why his parents will always wave back.” ~ William D. Tammeus